BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
More than 200 supporters packed the BHS Commons on Saturday, Oct. 4 for the Breakfast of Champions — an energizing celebration of sports, equity, and the incredible BeBe Burns, the 2025 BHS Woman of Impact Award recipient. Co-sponsored by the Ballard High School Foundation and the Athletic Booster Club, the breakfast raised funds for BHS Athletics, Performing Arts, Cheer, and Dance. This year, we also raised money for BHS Student Wellness Resources. The Foundation generously matched donations (up to $2,500 total match) for the special ask.
The breakfast fundraiser kicked off with high-energy performances from the Pep Band, Cheer, and Dance Teams, followed by a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by seniors Tess Keenan and Ellie Pake. The Coaches Panel and featured speaker Dr. Jonathan Drezner brought insight and inspiration to the program. Inaugural BHS Woman of Impact award recipient Sue Stimac Verduin '78 presented this year's honor to trailblazing BHS PE teacher and coach BeBe Burns. Her fans showed up in force, and it was a joy to hear from her lifting coach and former students as she accepted the honor.
Huge thanks to Emcee Erin Mayovsky; Coaches Panelists Dale Griffith (Softball), Stephanie Gundel (Gymnastics), and Doug Montgomery (Baseball); student speaker Alessa Iliakis; featured speaker Dr. Jonathan Drezner, and everyone who helped the morning run smoothly — from BHS administrators and Link Crew volunteers to kitchen and custodial staff and Cheer and Dance Team parent rep helpers.
We’re especially grateful to our planning team, including Foundation Executive Director Dick Lee and Athletic Booster Club President Suzanne Dale Estey, and Gloria Kruzner (event promotions), Principal Abby Hunt, Athletic Director Eric Ensign, and all the student athletes and coaches who joined us. We’re already looking forward to next year’s breakfast! Event photos by Briane Henak/Rowland Studio.
Last held in Fall 2023, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX at the Breakfast of Champions, raising money for mental health resources, and presenting the inaugural BHS Woman of Impact Award to Sue Stimac Verduin '78, an All-American Seattle University and Beaver basketball star whose BHS jersey hangs proudly in the BHS Gym. (The award also bears Sue's name!) This year, we were thrilled to honor BeBe Burns, a legendary PE teacher and tennis coach who taught at Ballard from 1966 to 1996. Along with being Sue's motivational mentor, BeBe was the first woman in Washington to coach boys’ high school sports and helped bring tennis courts to BHS. Now in her 80s, she continues to inspire as a nationally ranked powerlifter. (She’s also the state’s most decorated powerlifter.) After her three decades of service, she was recognized as the second recipient of the Sue Stimac Verduin '78 Woman of Impact Award.
Celebrating all things ballard online auction, salmon dinner & LIve auction and victor salvino golf classic
Thanks to everyone who joined us for, assisted with, and participated in the BHS Foundation’s Summer Fundraisers, Celebrating All Things Ballard Salmon Dinner, Aug. 14 at Pacific Fishermen Shipyard, the online auction, Aug. 2-17, and the 25th Annual Victor Salvino Golf Classic, Aug. 15 at Newcastle Golf Course.
Together we raised more than $140,000 for the Foundation, BHS Athletics, Cheer, Performing Arts and Dance. This total includes $37,000 raised at the events for this year’s special funded item, Link Crew peer mentoring for incoming BHS freshmen! Bravo!
We are proud to partner with the Foundation at these summer events, and it was great to see team volunteers supporting these fundraisers too. Special thanks to ABC President Suzanne Dale Estey, who served as dinner program emcee and assisted with golfer registration the following day. Our continued gratitude to Foundation Executive Director and Co-founder Dick Lee '61 for his planning efforts behind the three events and for continuing to champion all Ballard High School students.
The Ballard High School Foundation is a 501(c)(3) entity, Federal Tax ID #91-1811275
ABC TRIVIA NIGHT! April 30 at the Ballard elks
Spring Trivia Night a Hit! Thanks to the energetic sell-out crowd of Beaver boosters who attended our Spring Trivia Night fundraiser April 30 at the Ballard Elks Club! Special thanks to Trivia Hosts, Kelly Jones and Cindy Peterson, and event coordinators Senta Howren and Deborah Frieze. Round of applause for the awesome Coaches' Table players, including Athletic Director Eric Ensign, with Zach Wurtz (Volleyball), Nick Thornton-Jack (Baseball), Ian Essig (Football), Michael Morgan (Football), Taryn Brandell (Girls Soccer), and Rees Williams (Girls Soccer). Thanks to all who donated raffle prizes: Ridgewood Bottle & Tap, Stoup Brewing, Dick's Drive-in, Dave and Kelly Jones, and the Ballard High School Foundation. We're also grateful for ABC Beaver Gear Reps Phoebe Price and Erica Jamir for selling Beaver swag all night and ABC Treasurers Alexis Cruikshank and Tiffany Volosin for their accounting assistance. Thanks also to ABC President Suzanne Dale Estey for her support and sharing information about our mission with the crowd. The event is one of our largest fundraisers of the year, but your kind, tax-deductible financial gifts are always welcome on our donation page.
RUNNING OF THE BEAVERS 5K FUN RUN & walk! march 22, 2025
We love to partner with the Ballard High School Foundation for the Running of the Beavers 5K Fun Run and Walk at Golden Gardens, and this year was no exception. More than 350 Beaver supporters enjoyed a lovely jaunt along Seaview Avenue, March 22, with classic Ballard sites including a sailboat race on the Sound, polar bear plungers, volleyball rallies, families enjoying the stretch of beachfront, and sweet pups on leash too. The Pep Band got the crowd pumped and the Cheer Team encouraged runners at the beginning and toward the finish line. Emcee (BHS teacher and Activities Coordinator) Laura Lehni shared shout outs, while Bucky posed for photo ops and lead the runners for a few paces at the start. Our food sponsors outdid themselves with Duke’s clam chowder, Grocery Outlet fresh produce and water bottles, Scandinavian Specialties lefse, and Smith Brothers chocolate and regular milk chugs at the finish. Beneficiaries were Ballard Athletics, Band, Cheer and Dance. We’re happy to report that more than $9,500 will be disbursed to these designated recipients. THANK YOU, Beaver community! The Freshmen class also earned $500 for their class account with the most participants! Congratulations! Full event recap
