M&I Provides Support for Yavapai County Spelling Bee

PHOENIX, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweaty palms, memory lapses, indigestion, crying, headaches, and fainting. While they aren't symptoms of a mysterious tropical disease, they are experienced by countless school children in the classroom - all in the name of education. The cause? Let's call it Spelling Bee-itis.

Spelling Bees are a long-standing and important tradition in our educational system. Each year, thousands of elementary and middle school children study wood roots, definitions, spelling and etymologies countless hours; all for the honor of being crowned their school's spelling champ.  M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group, announces that it has continued its multi-year support of the Yavapai County Spelling Bee with sponsorship of this week's county event held in Prescott. The winner of the state spelling bee will travel to Washington D.C. later this year to participate in the 85th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, where last year's winner took home more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.

"Providing our young people a quality education is a critical component to their success as an adult," said Steve Johnson, Arizona Regional President, M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group. "Programs such as the Yavapai County Spelling Bee help enforce a number of life skills in addition to improving the child's spelling skills. BMO Harris is pleased to continue our financial funding of this event and the part it plays in support of our educational system."    

About BMO Harris Bank N.A.
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through approximately 700 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida.  BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S.  Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC.  BMO Harris Bank(SM) and M&I® and Harris® are trade names used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.

SOURCE M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group