ABOUT US

Founded in 2025 and inspired by Noodle & Boo’s long-standing commitment to helping children, The Grace Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to serving children in foster care. Our mission is to ensure every child has the care, resources, and opportunities they deserve — and that no child feels forgotten.

We invite donors, partners, and community leaders who share our passion for helping foster children to join us in this urgent work. While The Grace Foundation was born out of a legacy of compassion, it operates independently with its own board of directors and programs, ensuring full transparency and accountability for every dollar entrusted to us.

This mission is greater than The Grace Foundation alone. Together — with the generosity of individuals, the support of corporate partners, and collaboration with foster care advocates nationwide — we can create transformative change and give thousands of children hope, stability, and a brighter future.

Leadership 

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT Christine Burger

Christine Burger is the Founder and President of The Grace Foundation and the Founder & CEO of Noodle & Boo, LLC, a leader in luxury baby skincare, maternity, and premium laundry care products. Since launching Noodle & Boo in 2005, Christine has built the brand into a trusted name while keeping philanthropy at the heart of its mission. Her vision for The Grace Foundation reflects her lifelong commitment to vulnerable children, creating programs that provide foster youth with critical resources, educational opportunities, and pathways to brighter futures.

Christine’s professional career includes multiple executive leadership roles at BEA Systems, Inc. She was first hired to integrate the WebLogic acquisition, aligning people, processes, and systems for a seamless transition. She later became Vice President of Business Operations, where she built scalable operations to support BEA’s continued growth, and ultimately served as Chief of Staff, guiding corporate leadership initiatives and aligning cross-functional priorities to strengthen organizational performance. Before joining BEA, Christine was Director of Organizational Development at Informix, Inc., where she led change management initiatives to rebuild trust and culture following a leadership transition.

Her board service includes Blood: Water Mission, a nonprofit addressing the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa, with programs that deliver life-saving resources and support to vulnerable children and families.

Christine holds a BA in Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento, and a Master’s degree from San José State University. She is recognized for blending business acumen with a deep sense of purpose to build sustainable enterprises that drive social good.

Dara Bazzano brings more than three decades of financial leadership at the highest levels of corporate America to her role as Treasurer of The Grace Foundation. She is currently the San Francisco Office Managing Partner and California Market Leader at CrossCountry Consulting, where she advises Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations on strategy, governance, and financial performance.

Dara previously served as SVP and Chief Accounting Officer of T-Mobile, leading accounting and finance operations during a period of transformative growth and innovation in the telecommunications industry. Before that, she was SVP, Global Finance and Chief Accounting Officer at CBRE, and VP, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer at Gap Inc., where she oversaw financial operations for one of the world’s leading apparel retailers. Earlier in her career, Dara was a partner at both KPMG and PwC, specializing in the retail and consumer sectors.

Her board service includes Once Upon a Farm, Lulus.com, Self Financial, Inc., and Girls on the Run International, reflecting her commitment to advancing women’s leadership and youth empowerment. 

Dara holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from California State University, Sacramento. Widely respected for her integrity, technical expertise, and values-driven leadership.

SECRETARY Stacy Rea Thomas

Stacy Rea Thomas is an accomplished business and technology leader with more than 30 years of executive experience at Wells Fargo, where she most recently served as Senior Vice President and Senior Engineering Manager. In this executive role, she led a complex portfolio of digital payment applications, built and scaled high-performing teams, and drove innovative strategies in technology governance, cloud architecture, and compliance.

In addition to her corporate career, Stacy serves as an Adjunct Professor at Jessup University, teaching project portfolio management and software project management. She holds an MBA from Jessup University, an MS in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix, and a BA in Communication Studies and Journalism from California State University, Sacramento. She also maintains advanced certifications in Agile, Scrum, ITIL, and Six Sigma.

A dedicated community advocate, Stacy has served on the Board of Directors for FieldHaven Feline Rescue and is currently President of Soroptimist International of Lincoln, California. As Secretary of The Grace Foundation, she leverages her extensive executive leadership experience to strengthen governance, guide strategy, and advance the Foundation’s mission of improving the lives of foster children.