Big City Parents Organization

Who We Are

The BCPO was founded in 2005 by parent Justine Tideman and a few other BCMS parents to address diversity at Big City Montessori School.

These concerned parents noticed that a growing number of families were unable to send their children to BCMS — families whose tuition was subsidized by Children’s Council of San Francisco (CCSF). Due to funding cuts, many either had their benefits greatly reduced, or lost them altogether.

The BCPO was formed to raise scholarship funds to supplement CCSF vouchers — to bridge the gap between funding still available from CCSF and the actual cost of tuition.

A call went out to the BCMS community for volunteers to help organize a fundraiser. A committee was formed and held the very first — and successful — fundraiser. The following year, the committee reformed with additional members, and again, put together a successful event. In September 2006, the group became an organization, and achieved federal nonprofit status. BCPO is now a 501(c)(3) organization, whose sole purpose is to raise scholarship funds.