WCEF Business Partnership Program

With languishing cuts to California’s education budget, along with a sagging East Bay economy, WCEF is forging ahead to expand their business and community development outreach through their Business Partnership Program.

With WCEF’s heightened marketing outreach this past year, increased media exposure, (including a professionally produced DVD, “You and WCEF Together”), and expanded fundraising events and programs, the Foundation is poised to seek larger donations from corporations and businesses.

Bolstering support of the Foundation’s business outreach includes the addition of business leaders to the group’s Board of Directors. As a result, businesswoman and realtor, Ellen Osmundson joined WCEF’s Board of Directors as their business development chair. Osmundson is a Fine Home Specialist with Prudential California Realty and is a proud parent of Alan Osmundson, a seventh grade honor student at WCI.            

Osmundson is an active member of the Walnut Creek community and has served on numerous boards and is a graduate of the Leadership Contra Costa program and the Walnut Creek Citizen’s Institute. Her passion for being a life-long learner resulted in achieving her California Teaching Credential. To share her childhood experience growing up in Hong Kong, she created an after school program, “Fun With Chinese Culture” at Parkmead Elementary. 
With Osmundson’s expertise, along with joining forces with WCEF executive director, Lisa Heinrich, and members of WCEF’s Business Advisory Council, the goal is to seek strategic partnerships with East Bay businesses to expand fundraising strategies for WCEF.

As part of business/community development, WCEF receives advice from key business leaders serving on the WCEF Business Advisory Council. Members include: Tracy Dietlien, Marketing Manager, Broadway Plaza; Scott Ellis, Senior Vice President, Collier’s International; Elise Fornaci, Realtor, Coldwell Banker; Tony Kallingal, SVP, Mechanics Bank; David Platt, Chevron; Nancy Rivara, retired educator and past president, WCEF; Tom Terrill, President, The Terrill Company and past president, WCEF.

With WCEF’s commitment to raise $724,000 in the 2009-2010 school year, the Foundation finds that it must expand its fundraising efforts outside its strongest and highly valued constituency – parents. “We wouldn’t be able to raise half of what we do on an annual basis if it weren’t for the generosity of our families, teachers, administrators, and parent clubs,” added Osmundson.

“We live in an extraordinary community with numerous large corporations, smaller entrepreneurial businesses, and alumni that would benefit by partnering with WCEF to support our local schools. But with less than 50% of our total community donating, WCEF needs to partner with businesses and the community to increase the dollars coming in the door, and to help build reserves for the Foundation so we can expand support for our schools,” said Osmundson.

For more information about WCEF’s Business Partnership Program, go to wcefk12.org or contact Lisa Heinrich at lheinrich7@gmail.com.

Back to Top