Buckingham Big Hearts

Buckingham Big Hearts is the in-house charitable giving committee of Buckingham Advisors'. It was founded in 2019 by employees who wanted to provide group opportunities for philanthropic involvement with the communities in which we serve. Buckingham Big Hearts leads quarterly events that can involve donations, volunteer work, and other activities to support local businesses, individuals, and families. Quarterly events are open to employees, clients, and friends of Buckingham Advisors.

1st Quarter 2024

Springboro Community Assistance Center (SCAC)

Buckingham Big Hearts is thrilled to be working with the Springboro Community Assistance Center (SCAC) as our first quarter charity partner! SCAC was created in 2007 to assist families in need of food and other services. Most of the families who are helped are working hard to overcome the challenges of layoffs, single parenthood, or insufficient wages to support the family.  All of these issues directly impact the children and their ability to thrive at school and within the community. SCAC also partners with Shared Harvest Foodbank to provide backpacks of nutritious food for students on free and reduced lunch programs.

Ways to donate:

1. Specific items: https://springborocommunityassistance.org/what-we-need/. Donation boxes are located in the lobby of Building 3 for the Dayton office, and in the main lobby in the Columbus office.
2.  Financial assistance: Checks can be made payable to Springboro Community Assistance Center and given to any employee of Buckingham Advisors.
3.  Register your Kroger Plus Card: https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards. SCAC receives a donation every time you shop! The organization number is UX723.
4.  Register your Dorothy Lane Market Club Card: https://www.dorothylane.com/club-dlm/good-neighbor-program/. SCAC receives a donation every time you shop! The organization number is 907.

Donations will be accepted through Monday, April 15. Please spread the word with your family, friends, and neighbors. If you have questions, please contact us. 

Thank you for your generous support of this impactful organization!

1st Quarter 2024

Buckingham Big Hearts Scholarship

Buckingham Advisors is proud to present the Buckingham Advisors Scholarship, in partnership with the Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee. Buckingham Advisors is a unique team of Professionals working together to create financial success for our Clients. Buckingham Big Hearts is the in-house charitable giving committee of Buckingham Advisors, founded in 2019 by Employees who wanted to provide group opportunities to philanthropic involvement with the communities in which we serve. This scholarship allows us to support and connect with local, hardworking students pursuing a degree in Finance, Financial Services, or Accounting.

For additional information and to apply: Scholarship Flier 2024 Buckingham Advisors.pdf

4th Quarter 2023

Toys for Tots

We would like to thank everyone that participated in Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee’s 2023, Toys for Tots Drive. We were able to collect over 200 toys for the less fortunate children in the Dayton area. Please know that you have helped put warm smiles on children's faces this Holiday Season.

For additional information on Toys for Tots, please visit: https://www.toysfortots.org

Tour de Gem

Buckingham Advisors is again proud to sponsor and support our clients and employees who are participating in the Tour de Gem 6th Annual Cycling Classic. In conjunction with the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, this annual fundraising event assists local nonprofits raise money and bring awareness to their important missions. This family-friendly event takes place on Sunday, October 1, 2023 and this year, they are offering both a Live Ride and Virtual Ride options!   If you are interested in learning more about the Tour de Gem or registering to participate, please visit https://www.ms-stride.org/tourdegem and use code: BA23.

3rd Quarter 2023

Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM)

The Buckingham Big Hearts 3rd quarter project was in partnership with Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM). WARM provides compassionate, short-term assistance, educational services, and spiritual support in order to encourage individuals to achieve a God-reliant, self-sufficient life while restoring dignity and hope. We supported our Columbus Community by packing over 1,000 bags to send home with children over the weekend to ensure they have meals while not in school. Thank you to all those who assisted in the project!

Lights of Hope

Buckingham Big Hearts is honored to support the Lights of Hope signature event for the American Cancer Society - Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) for a second year in a row! With help from volunteers across the country, 55,000 Lights of Hope bags will be dedicated and displayed in honor of those who have been touched by cancer and remembering those lost. Buckingham Advisors bags will be displayed in Troy, Springfield, Austin Landing, and travel to Washington D.C. as part of the National Ceremony. Funds raised through Lights of Hope enables ACS CAN continue its mission to make fighting cancer a national priority. For additional information on the Lights of Hope event, American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network, how you can contribute, please visit:  https://acscan.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=1074. 

2nd Quarter 2023

Shoes 4 the Shoeless

 The Buckingham Big Hearts had a wonderful time volunteering with Shoes 4 the Shoeless on Tuesday morning at Northridge Local Schools. We helped over 230+ children receive a new pair of shoes and socks! Back in 2022, our office hosted a sock drive for this organization with clients and staff donating hundreds of socks!  It was gratifying to see the project come full circle👟

1st Quarter 2023

IRS & Dress! 

Clothing Donation Contest

The clothing drive for Clothes That Work was a great success!  In partnership with our clients and staff from all Buckingham offices, we collected and donated 591 items!  

These items will assist people in our community that are in need of interview appropriate clothing. If you are interested in making a donation, please visit the Clothes That Work website for additional information:  https://www.clothesthatwork.org/.

4th Quarter 2022

Toys for Tots

We would like to thank everyone that participated in Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee’s 2022, Toys for Tots Drive. We were able to collect over 250 toys for the less fortunate children in the Dayton area. Please know that you have helped put warm smiles on children's faces this Holiday Season.

Tour de Gem

Buckingham Advisors is again proud to sponsor and support our employees who participate in the Tour de Gem: The Wright Brothers 2022 Cycling Classic. This annual fundraising event assists local nonprofits raise money and brings awareness to their important missions. This family-friendly event takes place on Sunday, October 9, 2022. The route begins in downtown Dayton and circles area sites that are the “gems” of Dayton, such as The Wright Brothers Cycle Company, Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the Dayton Veteran Affairs Medical Center. If you are interested in learning more about the Tour de Gem, please visit https://www.ms-stride.org/tourdegem.

3rd Quarter 2022

Lights of Hope

Buckingham Advisors had the privilege of supporting Lights of Hope, the signature event for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).  The event displayed bags that honor those who have been touched by cancer and remembering those lost.  Our staff decorated bags that were displayed in Troy, Springfield, and Washington D.C. as part of the national ceremony.  For additional information on the event and the ACS CAN, please follow the link: https://www.fightcancer.org/lights-hope. 

Operation Cherrybend

Buckingham Advisors is a proud annual sponsor of Operation Cherrybend’s September Retreat Week and Heroes Concert. This yearly event brings together combat-wounded veterans who would otherwise never have met and forms a network of support and friendships - right here in Ohio. Through music, adventure, fellowship—this is where the healing begins.  The mission of Operation Cherrybend is to thank veterans for their courage, selflessness, and sacrifice to our country. This newly formed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization also hopes to educate the general public about the trials and challenges of wounded veterans, and veterans in general. The Veterans Administration says that as many as 20 American veterans commit suicide daily. Operation Cherrybend wants to see that number go down.

Operation Cherrybend hosts two annual fundraisers:

•  Sporting Clays Fundraiser - Held on May 23, 2022
•  Heroes Golf Outing Fundraiser - Held on June 11, 2022. 

Money from these fundraisers provide the capital for Operation Cherrybend’s Retreat Week, which is held on September 14-18, 2022. There will also be a Heroes Concert on September 16, 2022. 

If you are interested in learning more about this important charity, registering to participate, making a donation, or nominating a veteran, please visit www.OperationCherrybend.org. 

2nd Quarter 2022

Shoes 4 the Shoeless

The Big Hearts are hosting a sock drive!! From now until July 29, 2022,  we will be collecting:

• new pairs of children's socks 
• any sizes that will fit children ages 5 and up
• athletic styled, and fun colored socks are always appreciated by the children!!

There is a collection box at our Dayton office located at 6856 Loop Road, Centerville, OH. If you'd like to participate with our sock drive but are currently not local to do so, a monetary donation can be made on Shoes 4 the Shoeless website at www.shoes4theshoeless.org. A $30 donation purchases one pair of new shoes for a child in need! 

Mission: Shoes 4 the Shoeless, Inc. is a non-profit that provides new, correctly fitting gym shoes and socks to children in desperate need. In Southwest Ohio, an estimated 60% of children live in poverty. Wearing ill-fitting and worn shoes often condemns children to physical, social, and emotional problems that last a lifetime. Shoes 4 the Shoeless began in 2010 and has helped well over 100,000 children. In 2021 alone they provided 12,441 pairs of new shoes, $140,000 worth of socks,  and volunteered over 11,000 hours to children attending our local school districts.

1st Quarter 2022

The Dayton Foodbank, Inc.

For our first quarter project, the Big Hearts Committee volunteered with The Dayton Foodbank for the Foodbank Drive-Thru.  With this opportunity, they assisted in sorting produce and distributing food to the Foodbank clients at a designated location in the Miami Valley.   In conjunction with grocery retail stores (Wal-Mart, Meijer, and Whole Foods) and independent food drives, they helped serve 100-120 clients.

4th Quarter 2021

Toys for Tots

We would like to thank everyone that participated in Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee’s 2021, Toys for Tots Drive. We were able to collect over 200 toys for the less fortunate children in the Dayton area. Please know that you have helped put warm smiles on children's faces this Holiday Season.  

Tour de Gem

Buckingham Advisors is a proud sponsor of Tour de Gem: The Wright Brothers 2021 Cycling Classic. This annual fundraising event assists local nonprofits raise money and bring awareness to their important missions. This is a family-friendly event taking place on Sunday, October 10, 2021. If you are interested in learning more about the Tour de Gem, please visit https://www.ms-stride.org/tourdegem.

3rd Quarter 2021

Pelotonia

For our 4th quarter project, we have chosen Pelotonia as our charity to raise funds for. Founded in 2008, Pelotonia hosts a three-day experience that includes a weekend of cycling, entertainment, and volunteerism. 100% of all participant-raised dollars go toward prevention and early diagnosis methods, enhanced treatments and therapies, immune-oncology, and the next generation of research talent.

If you are interested in learning more about Pelotonia, please visit https://pelotonia.org/.

Operation Cherrybend

Buckingham Advisors is a proud annual sponsor of Operation Cherrybend’s September Retreat Week and Heroes Concert. This yearly event provides combat-wounded veterans with fellowship and activities including adventure, music, and community – right here in Ohio. The mission of Operation Cherrybend is to thank veterans for their courage, selflessness, and sacrifice to our country. This newly formed 501(c)(3) non-profit organization also hopes to educate the general public about the trials and challenges of wounded veterans, and veterans in general. The Veterans Administration says that as many as 20 American veterans commit suicide daily. Operation Cherrybend wants to see that number go down.

Operation Cherrybend hosts two annual fundraisers:
•    Sporting Clays Fundraiser - Held on May 22, 2021
•    Heroes Golf Outing Fundraiser - Postponed due to weather - Original date: June 19, 2021. New date: Aug 21, 2021.

Money from these fundraisers will provide the capital for Operation Cherrybend’s Retreat Week, which will be held on September 8-12, 2021. There will also be a Heroes Concert on September 10, 2021. 

If you are interested in learning more about this important charity, registering to participate in the fundraisers, making a donation, or nominating a veteran, please visit www.OperationCherrybend.org. 

2nd Quarter 2021

Lebanon Bike Criterium

The Big Hearts are happy to be volunteering for the inaugural MainStreet Lebanon Bike Criterium!  The event will take place on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 10:30am - 7:00pm with the start and finish line at Mulberry Plaza in downtown Lebanon.  For additional information on this event, please visit: MainStreetLebanon.org.  

Crayons to Classrooms: School Supply Drive

The Buckingham Big Hearts Committee  chose Dayton Crayons to Classrooms as part of their 2nd quarter charity project. They are a non-profit organization that collects basic school supplies and acts as a free store for Dayton-area teachers from under-funded preK-12 schools that serve children living in poverty throughout Ohio’s Miami Valley. Thank you to all that participated and donated supplies! We want to wish all students a safe and happy school year!

1st Quarter 2021

Our Gift to the Community: Helping The Dayton Foundation Celebrate Their Centennial!

As longtime partners with The Dayton Foundation, we wanted to participate in the Foundation’s 100 Gifts to the Community campaign,” said Jay A. Buckingham, CFP®, Chief Executive Officer for Buckingham Advisors. “There are many needs within our community. This is a special way to honor The Dayton Foundation and assist those in the Greater Dayton area, now and in the future. This is our opportunity to pay it forward.

Link for our Centennial Donor Story (Gift #24):
https://www.daytonfoundation.org/100donors.html

Link to the video for our Gift to the Community:
Gift # 24 – https://www.daytonfoundation.org/100gifts.html
Direct link to our video – https://youtu.be/Clubg17LOxY

Additional Information about The Dayton Foundation Centennial Celebration:
https://www.daytonfoundation.org/centennial.html

Big Hearts Gratuity Challenge

We would like to thank everyone that participated in the Big Hearts Gratuity Challenge! Our 1st quarter project was to provide an additional tip (% or $) at local restaurants through dine-in, carry-out, fast food, or delivery services to  show our support to those front-line workers.   The following is a summary from January to March 2021:
•    Average tip size: 49%
•    50+ tips were contributed to service staff
•    40+ different restaurant locations

4th Quarter 2020

Adopt-A-Family Program

The Buckingham Big Hearts Volunteer Committee would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who participated in our holiday activity this year: Adopt-A-Family program through Dayton's Homefull organization! We are excited to announce that the generosity of our employees enabled us to adopt two families for the 2020 holiday season and fulfill their entire wish list! Homefull works to establish or maintain families in permanent housing and increase access to food, employment and other resources within the Miami Valley.

2nd & 3rd Quarter 2020

Random Acts of Kindness In Our Community

The Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our clients and staff that participated in Random Acts of Kindness Month in July. We received many submissions from people letting us know how they made someone’s day! Thank you for spreading some smiles and cheer throughout your community! We will be continuing this through August, so keep up the great work and send us your kind acts!

Here are a few anonymous submissions:

• Purchased coffee for the person in the car behind me at Boston Stoker this morning
• Sent a small gift of music to a nursing home patient who loves music
• Bought, cooked, and delivered lunch and dessert to my grandparents
• Donated my bicycle (and a couple of wheels) to a non-profit that repairs bikes for low-income individuals
• Sent a thank you card to five Dayton Children’s Hospital caregivers
• Picked up trash around my neighborhood
• My husband and I delivered a flowering plant to elderly friends who have been homebound for many months due to the pandemic and illness
• Complimented a customer service employee
• Completed a positive survey response for an Ohio Dept. of Tax employee

Special Announcement: Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee

July is Random Acts of Kindness Month!

We invite you to participate in Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee’s July 2020 Random Acts of Kindness Month. From July 1st- 31st our staff will be conducting random acts of kindness throughout their communities to spread much needed positivity during these difficult times. Please join us throughout this next month and be sure to share your random acts of kindness with us! We would love to hear how you are making someone’s day better, both big and small.

“Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty”.

25 Ways to Make Someone’s Day

1. Send a letter to a grandparent/grandchild/parent/sibling/child
2. Offer to pick up groceries for a neighbor/older relative
3. Mow your neighbor’s lawn
4. Buy a coffee for the next person in line
5. Buy local products from a small vendor
6. Plant a tree
7. Let someone go ahead of you while waiting in line
8. Bake dog treats and donate to local shelter(s)
9. Leave a few quarters in a vending machine/laundromat
10. Offer to babysit for a night for free
11. Send cards to sick children in hospitals that may have limited visitors
12. Cook a few extra portions of dinner and deliver to family members, elderly neighbors
13. Send a handwritten thank you note or email to someone – try sending to a new person once a week
14. Leave a nice note or small gift in the mailbox for the mailman
15. Compliment someone – a family member, acquaintance, or someone you meet in the store
16. Send flowers to someone, just to brighten their day
17. Leave a nice note on someone’s car (imagine their surprise!)
18. Donate treats, towels, blankets, pet toys to an animal shelter
19. Post a praise of a local small business on social media
20. Add coins to someone’s parking meter
21. Drop off toys, books, or toiletries to a homeless shelter
22. Donate flowers, board games, food treats, postcards, or letters to a local nursing home facility
23. Drop off goodie baskets/thank you letters to first responders
24. Buy someone’s food at the drive-thru
25. Pick up trash around parks/playgrounds/roads/neighborhoods

April 20, 2020

Donating to Our Front-Line Workers and First Responders

We are so proud of our very own, Janet Steinke, Senior Wealth Advisor! In partnership with area Lebanon Chamber of Commerce businesses, they provided breakfast, lunch and dinner to all the three shifts at Bethesda Arrow Springs Medical Center in Lebanon. They also surprised local fire & police departments with special treats to show their appreciation and support for all they do for the wonderful Lebanon community! Thank you to Janet and the Lebanon Chamber businesses for their generous donations to our brave front-line workers and first responders!

1st Quarter 2020

Volunteering at 4 Paws for Ability

The Buckingham Big Hearts Volunteer Committee donated their time to a wonderful non-profit organization, 4 Paws for Ability, in the early Spring by cleaning and assisting staff at the Xenia facility. 4 Paws for Ability is one of the leading providers of service dogs for children regardless of disability as well as adult children with caregiver guardianship who cannot live independently. 4 Paws also assists veterans by providing service dogs which can assist with disabilities on a case-by-case basis, as well as adults living with hearing loss, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s. A great time was had by all and we’re looking forward to our next volunteer opportunity!

Buckingham Big Hearts: How You Can Help

The Buckingham Big Hearts Charitable Committee was formed in 2019 to give back to the communities that have given us so much. We feel it is important to stay positive during the current Covid-19 pandemic that is impacting our lives. We have compiled a list of ideas to help those individuals and businesses that are struggling, along with some simple ways to inspire hope. Enjoy!

• Spread kindness!
• Purchase gift cards from the restaurants and businesses in your neighborhood (and don’t forget to leave a tip!)
• Consider tipping those essential delivery/store pickup employees (i.e. grocery store pickup, parcel delivery, curbside delivery, etc.)
• The Dayton Foundation has established a community fund that will be distributed to vetted nonprofits that are responding to Covid-19. Learn More.
• House of Bread is collecting food and household items to be distributed to those in need.
• The Dayton Foodbank is collecting monetary donations for their drive-thru food pantry. Learn More.
• The Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association is collecting homemade masks for distribution. Learn More.
• The Dayton Sewing Collaborative is providing kits to volunteers to sew face masks for first responders. Learn More.
• Dayton Children’s Hospital is requesting cards to be sent to their patients, since visitors are limited. Learn More.
• Post pictures/drawings of hearts on windows and doors to allow essential workers and first responders to know they are appreciated.
• Write inspiring messages and pictures with chalk on sidewalks, driveways, etc.
• Consider fostering a pet. Many humane societies are looking for fosters during this stay-at-home order.
• Donate crossword puzzles, books, etc. to local nursing homes.
• Check on your friends, family and neighbors who may need your assistance.

It is important to maintain optimism and believe that we will not only survive this pandemic, but we will grow as individuals, communities, and a world. If you have additional ideas to help serve our community, please feel free to pass them along to share in future communications.

4th Quarter 2019

Toys for Tots

Thank you all for making the Toys for Tots drive a huge success this year! Together we were able to gather over 200 toys for children in the Dayton area. We hope to make it an even bigger success in 2020!