BCE Honors Three Remarkable Families at the 2025 Distinguished Service Awards
- bcemarketing
- 6 hours ago
- 7 min read
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 Burlingame School District sustain and enhance an exceptional public education for all TK-eighth grade students. The event brought together longtime supporters, new families, district leaders, and volunteers for a warm and celebratory gathering that highlighted the strength of community support for Burlingame’s schools.
As people arrived and mingled, BSD Elementary Music Teacher René Canto-Adams played gentle keyboard music that set a warm tone for the night. The atmosphere felt like the best of Burlingame with neighbors greeting neighbors, volunteers reconnecting with past board members, and new parents beginning to understand the depth of what community support looks like here.
“The Distinguished Service Awards are one of our most meaningful traditions. Every year, we have the privilege of recognizing volunteers whose generosity has shaped the experience of thousands of students. It is the best reminder that what makes the BCE community so special is people who give their time, their energy, and invest deeply in our schools.” - BCE Executive Director Meredith Dunn
The program opened with a welcome from the Burlingame Public Library Foundation’s Sarah Simson, who shared her enthusiasm for hosting such a meaningful gathering. BCE President Jen Faber followed with heartfelt thanks to the Library for opening its doors, to Charles Schwab for generously sponsoring the event, and to the many volunteers, board members, city leaders, and district partners who keep BCE’s mission thriving. She spoke about the power of collective generosity, pausing at one point to ask how many guests were supporting the BCE Endowment. It was a moment that sent dozens of hands into the air and served as a visible reminder of the strength of this community’s commitment to public education. As guests settled in, Faber also recognized the members of BCE’s Endowment Council, whose stewardship continues to build the district’s future. It set the stage for a night centered on service, impact, and gratitude.
This year’s Distinguished Service Awards honored three families whose contributions over many years have helped shape the culture and capacity of Burlingame’s schools.
Helen and Ken Foo
Faber began with a tribute to Helen and Ken Foo, whose steady presence and tireless dedication have touched nearly every corner of the district. From Helen’s years of leadership at multiple schools and BCE to Ken’s behind-the-scenes support and matched contributions, the Foos exemplify what it means for a family to make a long-term impact.
“What stands out about Helen is her tenacity, her excitement, and the joy she brings to everything related to our schools,” said Faber. “And Ken is right there with her, even if he says he had nothing to do with it, because we all know it takes a partnership. Their volunteer work has touched Franklin, BIS, BCE, and now even beyond, and we’re so grateful for everything they’ve done for this community.”
Beyond formal roles, Helen and Ken became the kind of steady presence that quietly strengthens an organization. Friends and fellow volunteers often point to Helen’s drive and reliability, and described her as the person who showed up prepared, asked thoughtful questions, and pushed gently for smarter, more efficient ways of doing things. As VP of New Families, she piloted creative approaches to help incoming parents feel welcomed and informed, and she was known for promoting BCE and BIS with genuine enthusiasm at every chance. Ken, with his easy humor and unfailing support, made their volunteer life possible, often juggling logistics at home or stepping in wherever needed. Together, they modeled what it means to lift a community not only through hours of service, but through spirit, warmth, and consistency.
Carolyn Horrigan-Way and Ken Way
Next, Sari McConnell honored Carolyn Horrigan-Way and Ken Way, reflecting on their joyful commitment across so many school and sports communities. Their presence, whether leading the Lincoln Dad’s Club, representing BCE at Hoover, supporting AYSO teams, organizing events, or championing teacher appreciation, has left an unmistakable imprint.
“If you want something done really well, ask Carolyn and Ken Way,” said McConnell. “Carolyn spent sixteen years volunteering, often while juggling a full-time job, three kids, an energetic dog, and a husband flying in from the other side of the world. And Ken has his own extraordinary list of service. Together, they’ve shown what it means to show up with your whole heart.”
What stands out most about Carolyn and Ken is the ripple effect of their involvement. Their willingness to step in, year after year, created a culture of optimism and shared responsibility at their schools. Carolyn was known for her calm, steady presence, and became the go-to person who could take a complicated event or a tricky committee task and make it feel manageable. Families often credit her with helping new parents feel connected, informed, and encouraged to participate. Ken brought that same spirit to the athletic fields and the Dad’s Club community, where his consistency and coaching gave kids and volunteers a sense of belonging. Together, they showed how one family’s long-term commitment can lift multiple school communities, creating a warm, inclusive environment for students and parents alike.
Lisa and Graham Mudd
Liz Anderson then spoke warmly about Lisa and Graham Mudd, whose service spans classroom support, site leadership, district governance, community engagement, and creative efforts to deepen understanding of BCE’s mission. Their impact reaches from Lincoln to the Board of Trustees and far beyond, embodying how one family’s dedication can be felt for years.
Anderson described the Mudds’ contributions, saying, ““Lisa truly cares about teachers, students, parents, our community, the curriculum, administrative policy, and our school facilities. She taught me that fundraising isn’t just a transaction; it’s a partnership. Lisa and Graham are literally the glue that brings people together, opening their home and hearts to past, present, and future Lincoln, BIS, BCE, and BHS families.”
Lisa Mudd has made a meaningful impact across BSD through both hands-on service and strategic leadership. As a substitute teacher, she became a familiar and trusted presence on multiple campuses, deepening her appreciation for the daily realities of classrooms. During her time as the BCE Site Director at Lincoln, she was known for exceptionally high engagement, mobilizing parent participation, elevating communication, and helping drive some of the school’s strongest fundraising years. She later expanded that influence as BCE’s VP of Site Directors, where she supported and mentored site teams across the district to strengthen consistency and collaboration. Lisa’s commitment carried into her election to the BSD School Board in 2020, where she helped guide major district initiatives like adopting modernized curriculum with robust teacher input, navigating the difficult path back to in-person learning, securing successful labor negotiations, and championing increased training and support for students with reading differences. Her service on the Owners Committee left a tangible imprint on district facilities, while her work on the Teacher Liaison Committee ensured teachers’ voices directly shaped board understanding. Together, Lisa and Graham also played active roles in supporting Measures O and GG, helping ensure long-term funding that will benefit students for years to come.
Throughout the evening, the feeling in the room was one of admiration and affection. The Distinguished Service Awards are a top acknowledgment that these families have strengthened Burlingame public schools not just through tasks completed or hours volunteered, but through the spirit they carried into every role.
President-Elect Pooja Shah noted how inspiring it is to see families model generosity and leadership for the next generation. “This night reminds me that that our work is shaped not just by the programs we fund, but by the example our families set,” President-Elect Pooja Shah said. “When parents give their time, their talents, and their hearts, they create a culture of generosity that our children grow up watching. Honoring these families is really a way of celebrating the values we hope to carry forward for the next generation.”
As the reception wound down and guests lingered with glasses in hand, there was a shared recognition that nights like this don’t happen everywhere. They happen in communities where people show up year after year, for each other and for their schools, and where those efforts are noticed and celebrated. Honoring Helen and Ken Foo, Carolyn and Ken Way, and Lisa and Graham Mudd was more than a moment of recognition. It was a reminder of what makes Burlingame special. Their contributions will continue to echo long after the evening’s last toast.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the Burlingame Public Library for hosting the event, Charles Schwab for their generous sponsorship, COUP Champagne, the National Charity League volunteers, and BSD Music Teacher René Canto-Adams for providing beautiful musical ambiance. Their support and contributions helped make the evening a warm, memorable celebration of our community and the remarkable volunteers we honor.
The BCE Endowment Fund
As the Distingushed Service Awards honor the long-term legacy of volunteers meaningful contributions to our schools, the event is also a celebration of the BCE Endowment Fund. 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 for years to come. 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.
BCE Endowment Fund Founders Circle recognizes donors who have made an investment of $10,000 or more including multi-year pledges. All donors who contribute a major gift towards that effort will be acknowledged in perpetuity in the BCE Endowment Donor Plaza at BIS. The Plaza opened in November of 2025, as part of larger landscape and irrigation work being done to improve and beautify BIS. The next phase of Endowment fundraising is working to reach a $5m goal by the summer of 2026, which would allow BCE to fund one full teacher’s salary off Endowment earnings annually.
