Librarians Rock The Competition! Birmingham Public Team Wins Birmingham’s Brightest Company Trivia Challenge

BPL trivia team 2013: (l-r) Jim Pate, Richard Grooms, Jared Millet,
Jaclyn Hogan, Mary Beth Newbill, Samuel Rumore Jr.

When Tobin Cataldo was asked to coach and select another winning trivia team for the Birmingham Public Library (BPL), he did not hesitate with his positive answer. Last year, he was part of the six-member team that won the distinction as Impact Alabama’s Brightest Company—both on the local and state level. On Tuesday, April 9, BPL’s team walked away with the $10,000 prize for the second year in a row. They competed with more than 50 Birmingham-area businesses and organizations (with over 350 participants) in the third annual competition sponsored by Impact Alabama. The prize money benefits the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library.

“I am very proud of this team, and the credit is entirely theirs,” said Cataldo. “The team came together from large libraries and small, from different interests and professional priorities for a common purpose: to acquit themselves with class and to demonstrate the exceptional intelligence, competency and level of service you can find in every branch of BPL.” Jaclyn Hogan, Richard Grooms, Jared Millet, Mary Beth Newbill, retiree Jim Pate and trustee Samuel Rumore Jr., were members of the winning team. Alternates for the event included Lynn Carpenter, Barry Crane, Danny Dorroh and Cedric Evans.

When asked what the experience was like for her, Mary Beth Newbill stated, “it was true this year as well as last that I am incredibly proud of our teamwork and humbled by what we accomplished. This was a really gratifying experience for me.” Newbill served as the team’s scribe throughout the competition.

Birmingham’s Brightest Company Trivia Competition invites companies from the Birmingham region to participate in an evening of trivia to raise money both for Impact Alabama and the winning teams’ selected charities. A contribution of $1,000 to Impact Alabama serves as an entrance fee and entitles a company to field a team of 2-6 employees to play for a chance to win $10,000 on behalf of any Alabama charity of their choosing. Impact Alabama is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. It works collaboratively with colleges, universities, and communities throughout the state to develop and implement substantive service-learning projects designed to engage students in addressing human and community needs and enhance students’ senses of social and civic responsibility.

The Friends of BPL are tremendously excited about the award. “Our number one priority is support for the Birmingham Public Library,” stated Friends’ President Regina Ammon. “The funds earned through this competition will enable the Friends to continue providing needed resources for our libraries in the City of Birmingham,” Ammon continued.