BCE Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Endowment Founders Circle
- bcemarketing
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
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 for Burlingame schools.
Founders Circle donors joined BSD leadership, including the Board of Trustees and Superintendent Marla Silversmith, along with BCE Board and staff, past board members, alumni, Endowment Council Trustees, donors, and students. The gathering served as both a moment of thanks and an affirmation of the community’s commitment to sustaining excellence in education for generations to come.
The BIS students have already given the new space a nickname. Many are calling it the “Founders Circle-Square.” Once kids realized the plaza is technically a square, the name stuck, and has been spreading with classic middle-school enthusiasm. It’s a charming reminder that while this plaza honors long-term vision and generosity, it has also immediately become part of students’ everyday lives, in the most delightfully silly way.
Superintendent Marla Silversmith expressed gratitude for the long-term vision that inspired so many families to participate. “As I walk through the plaza and see the names of families whose children have already grown up and moved on from BSD, I’m struck by the enduring impact their generosity makes,” she said. “Their foresight ensures that students today and for decades to come will benefit from an outstanding elementary education in Burlingame.”
BSD Board Trustee and Founders Circle member Nicole Mustafa shared the significance of being part of the endowment from its earliest days. “I’m truly honored to be a part of the Founders Circle,” she said. “My kids are still little, but I love imagining the day I’ll pick them up and see them sitting in this plaza. It means so much to play a role in creating something that will support students long after my own children have grown.”
BCE Board President Jen Faber also shared her enthusiasm for the next phase of endowment work. “With the Founders Circle officially launched, our next goal is to reach $5 million in the endowment by next summer,” she said. “Hitting that milestone would allow BCE to fully fund one teacher’s annual salary from endowment earnings alone. That would be an amazing testament to what this community can accomplish together.”
The ribbon cutting marked a milestone for the BCE Endowment that was years in the making, one built on generosity, vision, and the shared belief that strong public schools are a defining strength of the Burlingame community. As the fund grows, so too will its long-term impact on students, teachers, and programs across the district.
Commonly Asked Questions
What is the BCE Endowment Fund?
Established in 2015 by a passionate group of BSD parents, the BCE Endowment Fund was created to be a source of permanent financial stability supporting the needs of future generations of Burlingame public school students. Designed to work in concert with BCE’s Annual Fund, the BCE Endowment is a permanent, self-sustaining fund where the principal is invested and all or part of the earnings may be used to help support the costs of Burlingame School District programs and goals in a given year. In years where annual fundraising falls short or state funding is less, the Endowment Fund can help fill the gap ensuring more consistency.
Our great public schools are a key reason that Burlingame is such a desirable place to live. Our schools contribute to strong property values, local businesses, and our vibrant community. BCE’s Endowment Fund is our community's commitment to educational excellence and the long term success of our Burlingame schools and community.
How is the endowment different from the annual campaign?
Funds raised by The Annual Campaign are given to the Burlingame School District each year to pay for current essential programs that state funding does not cover. The Annual Campaign supports PE specialists, music, performing arts, world languages, additional teachers, professional development to ensure they are sustained from year-to-year. Contributions made to the BCE Endowment Fund, on the other hand, are invested so they have longevity.
Can I still donate to the Endowment Fund?
Yes. You can donation to the Endowment Fund at any time.
How was the Endowment Donor Plaza funded?
The Donor Plaza was be funded with Measure O Bond funds. Funds were already allocated to be used for landscaping and irrigation improvements at BIS. See May 2024 and August 2024 BSD board meeting agenda topics for additional details.
We'd love to connect.
Please contact us at endowment@bcefoundation.org or (650) 766-8969 if you’d like to speak or meet with us about making a gift to the BCE Endowment Fund. There are still bricks available in the Donor Plaza for those interested in making a $10k+ gift or pledge to the endowment fund.
