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 Burlingame Community for Education Foundation (BCE) has made a deliberate push to grow its business partnerships, and the results are extraordinary. What began as a small network has expanded into a thriving group of 32 local sponsors, a 60 percent increase in just the last year alone. Together, these businesses contributed $220,000 to support Burlingame schools, which is more than double the previous year’s giving. Local businesses have played a pivotal role in BCE’s ability to deliver its largest-ever grant to the Burlingame School District.

What began as a vision under former VPs of Business Development Christina Funk and Eric Missildine has grown into one of BCE’s fastest-rising areas of support. With the continued leadership of Scott Smith, BCE’s new Vice President of Business Development, the business partner program has expanded both in size and impact. This success reflects not only stronger relationships with local businesses, but also a shared belief that excellent public schools strengthen the entire Burlingame community.

BCE VPs of Business Development Extraodinaires: Christina Funk, Eric Missildine, and Scott Smith

“Local business leaders understand that strong public schools make Burlingame a place where families want to live, work, and put down roots, and that energy directly supports the business community,” said former BCE VP of Business Development Christina Funk. “Our job at BCE was to open the door, to show business leaders the many different ways they can make a difference. From event sponsorships to in-kind donations, there’s truly something for everyone. Once they saw that, the momentum really took off.”

BCE Executive Director Meredith Dunn added, “This year our Business Development team has partnered across the community to expand our program, showcasing that all types of businesses—real estate, education, construction, dentistry, automotive, and more—care about strong Burlingame schools. It’s incredibly motivating to see how passionate our extended community is about providing support.”

New sponsors this year include Burlingame Orthodontics, Burlingame Pediatric Dentistry, Spitz and Davis, Refactor, and Nhieu Warner Realtor. BCE also recognizes the Burlingame Soccer Club, whose Burlingamers program donates 100 percent of net proceeds to BCE. This is a remarkable example of community-driven support.

Many business sponsors are also BSD parents, making their contributions especially meaningful. They invest in schools not only as business leaders, but also as moms and dads who see the impact of their generosity in their own children’s classrooms. Susan Caccia of Caccia Plumbing told us that, “As a family and a local business, supporting BCE is truly close to our hearts. We’ve seen firsthand how BCE enriches the lives of the children in our community, and it’s an honor to be part of an organization that values education and empowers the next generation.”

Arya Askari, the Executive Director of the Tutoring Club of Millbrae agrees. “My kids love attending school, due in large part to the programs that BCE funds. As a local business owner and a parent of Burlingame students, I feel that it is my responsibility to contribute to BCE to help ensure that my kids, and all of the students in our community, receive a high quality, complete education.”

“Burlingame local businesses are true champions for education. Their commitment ensures that every child in our community has the chance to learn and grow.” —VP of Business Development Scott Smith

As BCE looks ahead, one thing is clear: local businesses are more than sponsors. They have become partners and community members, shaping the future of Burlingame. We are deeply grateful to all of our 2024-25 Business Partners. Their generosity fuels excellence in our classrooms and strengthens our entire community. We encourage everyone to support these local businesses, because when they thrive, so do our schools. “As BCE builds its business sponsorships, we look to have both our schools and our business partners benefit. By showcasing businesses, we hope that families take notice and shop locally. Burlingame wins when we shop and support local businesses,”  BCE President Jen Faber reflected.

BCE Business Partner Program

Our local business community is a vital part of BCE and our school district. Without their partnership, we would not be able to grant the Burlingame School District the funds needed to provide each and every student with a world class educational experience. When you become a BCE Business Partner, you not only support stronger Burlingame schools, but you gain business exposure within our amazing community. ​​Learn more by reviewing our Business Partner Benefits and become a BCE Business Sponsor today! Questions? Email Scott Smith at business1@bcefoundation.org or Brigitte Dean at brigitte@bcefoundation.org.