Party Hardy at School Fundraiser Events This Weekend

Eat, drink, dance and be merry while supporting Burlingame schools this weekend. On Friday, March 4, the Burlingame High School Parents Group presents the annual Taste of the Town at the from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Burlingame Community for Education Foundation (BCE) hosts its annual dinner dance at the in Burlingame.

Taste of the Town Sports an 80s Theme

“Party Like It’s 1981” is the theme for this year’s Taste of the Town in celebration of the 30^th anniversary of this volunteer-supported annual fundraising event. Tickets are $60 and will be available at the door. Grab your plate and glass, wander through the recreation center and adjacent tent and indulge in tastes and sips from the more than 30 restaurant and beverage vendors donating food and drink for the occasion.  BHS parent and disc jockey Jeff Tateosian will spin 1980s discs, and the jazz band, choir and cast of the upcoming musical, Broadway Rhythm, will perform.

Check out the many silent auction items, including a day of Sonoma wine tasting followed by a gourmet dinner for six hosted by BHS principal Chris Holleran, a stay at a Mexican villa, San Francisco Giants and other sporting events tickets, a custom set of golf clubs, overnight getaways and more. You can also purchase raffle tickets and a chance to win the grand prize of  $1,000 or a night at The Clement Monterey - an Intercontinental Hotel ocean front luxury suite with champagne, breakfast, couple's massage and aquarium tickets ($1115 value) or white gold “Huggy” hoop earrings with 18 diamonds ($950 value).

BHS parents Candace Savoie and Carol Atkeson are the co-chairs of this year’s event. They’ve been working steadily with a core group of 20 volunteers since September to organize the fundraiser and aim to raise $100,000, which will help to decrease class size and fund student activities, classroom needs and school programs. More than 50 volunteers will be staffing the event.

Mardi Gras Sets the Stage for the BCE Dinner Dance

It’s just a coincidence that BCE is hosting its big fundraising event this weekend, too, according to leaders at both BCE and the BHS parents group. The Mardi Gras Ball, BCE’s dinner dance, silent and live auction and entertainment in the Plush Lounge will be held from 5:30 p.m. to midnight at the San Francisco Airport Hyatt Regency Hotel. Tickets are $125 and must be purchased in advance. Check the BCE website or Contact Debbie Heffernan at ddheff@gmail.com to purchase tickets.

“We are excited about the Laurent Fourgo and  Ensemble band!” said dinner dance chair Maarit Visbal. “They’ll play New Orleans jazz tunes and smooth jazz in the velvety Plush Lounge that we have created.” The dinner dance also features San Francisco DJ Dave Tutton to get people dancing.

 “What always surprises me the most are the countless volunteers who year after year sign up to help!” Visbal said.  “It truly takes a village to put on the dinner dance. I think we have more than 20 people actively working on this right now. I find it exciting, too, how the community comes together this way.”

Live auction items include a one-week stay at a resort in Cabo San Lucas, dinner at the Chef’s Table at One Market Restaurant in San Francisco, a trip to Washington, D.C. including lunch and a VIP tour of the Capitol with Congresswoman Jackie Speier and a Napa wine tour.

Those who purchase raffle tickets will have a chance to win a three-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort, three nights at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe or field club level tickets to a San Francisco Giants game with dinner at Aperto Restaurant.

A multitude of silent auction items will tempt bidders, as well, including Disneyland tickets, overnight getaways, a week-long stay at a Tahoe cabin, a day of sailing on the bay and more.

“The goal is to raise $250,000,” said BCE president Christine Thorsteinson.  The funds raised will help provide enriched curriculum and quality instruction, and keeping class sizes as small as possible.