CHAMBERSBURG – The Franklin County Literacy Council raised $5,400 for adult education in the county at its seventh annual PuzzleMania fundraiser. The event was held on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Landis-McCleaf Marine Corps League.
Twenty teams of four competed, with all proceeds benefiting adult education in Franklin County.
“PuzzleMania is such a fitting celebration of our work,” said Nicole Buhrman, program coordinator. “Each learner’s time with us is like a piece of a larger puzzle – when our students, tutors and community come together, the whole picture of growth and opportunity comes into focus. We’re so grateful for the support that makes this possible.”
The 2025 first-place team, “Not Your Average Puzzlers,” set a PuzzleMania record by completing the puzzle in 46 minutes. The team placed second in 2024, which fueled their determination to win. “Persistent Puzzlers,” this year’s second-place team, finished in one hour and one minute. Third-place team “Working on 40K” – so named for the 40,000-piece puzzle they collaborate on in their spare time – came in right behind “Persistent Puzzlers” at one hour and two minutes. “This year’s PuzzleMania was very high energy,” said Melody Vitek, FCLC program assistant.
WellSpan Health served as this year’s puzzle solver sponsor, and Gateway Gallery served as the challenge sponsor. Table sponsors included Manitowoc, Sheetz, Your Hometown Real Estate, Chambersburg Civitan Club, The Chambersburg Club, American Legion Post #46 and Murphy & Childers. Grove Family Library and Sue McLaughlin provided in-kind prize donations.
Local comedienne Ashley Pontius, who served as the event’s emcee, will also perform at FCLC’s next fundraiser, the Read the Room Comedy Show on Saturday, Nov. 1.
To learn more about how to support FCLC’s mission or register for its next fundraiser, readers may visit www.iu12.org or follow FCLC on social media at @liu12_fclc.
About FCLC
The Franklin County Literacy Council’s mission is to empower lives through literacy by helping adults develop basic literacy and employability skills. As a part of the adult education department of the Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 (LIU12), FCLC has been serving adults in Franklin County, PA since 1985 by offering small-group and one-one-one instruction to improve basic literacy and English language skills.
