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Community Spotlight
Keep up with our latest announcements, events, and more.
Mark Your Calendars!
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Welcome Back Event - Aug 28, 2026
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Leadership Circle Fall Reception - Sep 29, 2026
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Distinguished Service Awards & Donor Reception - Nov 15, 2026
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Giving Tuesday - Dec 1, 2026
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Leadership Circle Spring Reception - April TBC, 2027
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Scholars Circle Parties - May 2027


A Winning Design for a Milestone Year
Nathan Hopkins' artwork was selected from dozens of student entries to represent BCE's 45th Anniversary Fall Drive. Every fall, hundreds of BCE lawn signs pop up across Burlingame, creating a colorful reminder of a community that believes in its public schools. This year, the artwork on those signs was created by Burlingame Intermediate School eighth grader Nathan Hopkins, whose winning design will help celebrate the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation's 45th annive


Get This School Year Started with BCE!
Grab a First Day of School Board, fill in the fun facts, and help us celebrate the start of another great year in Burlingame schools. There’s something special about the first day of school. Our kiddos celebrate the day with new backpacks, fresh school supplies, and plenty of excitement about the year ahead. Before the first bell rings, there’s one more tradition not to miss… the first-day photo! This year, BCE’s New Families team created a fun First Day of School Board to he


Investing in Burlingame for 45 Years
BCE celebrates its milestone anniversary with a record $3.21 million grant to Burlingame School District, honoring a long legacy of community support. Forty-five years ago, a group of Burlingame parents came together with a shared belief that every child deserved access to an exceptional public education. In the wake of California's school funding changes following Proposition 13, they recognized that state funding alone would no longer provide all of the opportunities they e


BCE Launches Cornerstone Society to Build the Future of Burlingame Schools
New phase of the Endowment campaign invites families to leave a lasting legacy while helping BCE grow the endowment in celebration of the foundation’s 45th anniversary. Following the ribbon cutting of the Endowment Founders Circle at the BCE Donor Plaza last fall, the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation (BCE) is excited to announce the next phase of its long-term investment in our public schools: the launch of the Cornerstone Society. This new giving opportunity inv


Small Gatherings, Lasting Impact
End-of-year Scholars Circle parties celebrated the generosity and vision of BCE's most dedicated supporters. Throughout May and June, BCE welcomed Scholars Circle donors to a series of intimate gatherings hosted by school communities across the district. These events offered an opportunity for supporters to connect with one another, hear from school leaders, and celebrate the collective impact of donors who believe deeply in public education. While the gatherings themselves w


More Than a Field Day
How BCE-funded physical education teachers help Burlingame students build confidence and healthy habits that last a lifetime. On a sunny spring morning at Lincoln Elementary School, students raced across the field, cheered on their classmates, and took turns at stations that included tug-of-war, parachute games, races, and kickball. For many students, Field Day is one of the most anticipated traditions of the school year. It is a day filled with movement, laughter, teamwork,


The Lifelong Impact of Middle School Language Programs
At BIS, students gain more than vocabulary and grammar. With teachers like Vanessa Stubbs and support from BCE, they develop skills and connections that last for years. At many public middle schools, world language instruction is limited or unavailable altogether. At Burlingame Intermediate School, however, students can begin studying Spanish or Mandarin years before high school thanks to funding provided through BCE’s annual grant. That early start gives students a significa


Leadership Circle Spring Reception Brings City and Schools Together
BCE’s spring reception offers a rare opportunity for donors to engage directly with city and school leaders shaping our community. On the evening of April 29, members of the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation (BCE) Leadership Circle gathered at the Burlingame Woman’s Club for a special spring reception that brought together donors, city leaders, and school district leadership for an evening of meaningful conversation and connection. In an intimate setting designed


The Real Magic of Middle School Musicals
Mary Poppins JR. at BIS highlights how performing arts help students grow, connect, and shine. BIS audiences were recently taken on a magical journey into the enchanting world of Mary Poppins JR., the Broadway Junior musical adaptation of the acclaimed 1964 Disney film. Through captivating songs and choreography, impressive costumes and props, timely lighting and sound effects, BIS Performing Arts stunned crowds once again. From the first auditions to the final bow, this year


BCE’s 2026 Soirée was a Rootin’-Tootin’ Success
A sold-out crowd, spirited bidding, and a whole lot of heart helped this year’s Soirée raise almost $300K for Burlingame public schools. BCE’s Saddle Up Soirée brought a sold-out crowd of over 250 guests together on March 21, 2026 for a lively celebration at CuriOdyssey’s Redwood Room. The evening combined country chic style with high-energy fun, as parents, educators, and community members gathered to support Burlingame public schools. Guests enjoyed a festive night of cockt


Growing Together: More Students, More Donors, More Community Support for Read-a-thon
Across all grade levels, participation grew as students, families, and supporters came together to make this year’s Read-a-thon our most inclusive yet! This year’s GROW with BCE Read-a-thon was defined by one powerful theme: more. More students stepping up to fundraise, more donors supporting our schools, and more families and community members engaging in a shared celebration of reading. By the end of the Read-a-thon, 1,085 students had created fundraising pages, 2,144 dono


BCE Honors Three Remarkable Families at the 2025 Distinguished Service Awards
Champagne, music, and community set the tone for a memorable evening celebrating the Foundation’s top honor. The Burlingame Public Library’s main branch hosted more than one hundred members of the BCE community on Sunday evening, November 16, for an intimate reception recognizing this year’s Distinguished Service Award honorees. The BCE Distinguished Service Award is an annual award recognizing exemplary volunteer service, leadership, and commitment to the mission to help Bu


BCE Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Endowment Founders Circle
Community gathered to honor donors and mark a milestone in long-term support for Burlingame schools. The Burlingame Community for Education Foundation (BCE) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 18 at the BCE Endowment Donor Recognition Plaza, located in front of the Burlingame Intermediate School theater. The event celebrated the creation of the BCE Endowment Founders Circle and recognized the donors whose early generosity has helped build a lasting source of support


Most Successful Fall Drive Ever Sets a New Record
Community generosity fuels a historic $1.57 million campaign, driven by new families, early giving, and growing leadership-level support. Kicking off Fall Drive and celebrating historic fundraising success at McKinley’s Back-to-School Night. The Burlingame Community for Education Foundation (BCE) announced that its annual Fall Drive has set a new fundraising record, bringing in $1.57 million , which is approximately $200,000 more than any previous Fall Drive in BCE history.


BCE Business Partnerships See Historic Growth
From real estate to dentistry, local businesses step up with record support for Burlingame students. Over the past three years, the...


City and Schools Unite to Celebrate BCE Donor Impact
At the second annual Leadership Circle gathering, the Mayor, Superintendent, and BCE leaders highlight how community support powers...


The Mystery Artist Revealed!
Meet Our 2025 Fall Drive Lawn Sign Winner Paige Bird. This year’s winning design was one of around 50 total submissions from students at...


Superheroes Take Center Stage at BCE’s First Back-to-School Celebration
Parents, teachers, donors, and local businesses gather to honor Burlingame’s everyday champions. Capes, masks, and plenty of laughter...


Curtains Up on a New Year of BIS Theater
Community support makes it possible for students to be the stars of two unforgettable productions in 2025-26. The stage is set for...


BCE Welcomes New President-Elect after Milestone Year
President Jen Faber welcomes Pooja Shah as incoming President Elect to help her lead the organization forward. BCE President Jen Faber...
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