About

Giving Back to St. Louis, One Event at a Time

What began in 2010 as a simple Christmas gathering with friends has grown into something truly special. The Buchheit Foundation is a St. Louis–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to supporting local families and charities through two major giving events each year—one in the summer and one during the holiday season.

“What started as a simple Christmas party with 41 canned goods and a trophy game has grown into raffles, auctions, themed summer events, and even scholarships for trade schools—all with a focus on giving back locally. It’s my version of the Catalina Wine Mixer—yeah, it’s a lot of work and a little crazy, but I 100% love it and believe in everything we’re doing.”
– Chris Buchheit, Founder

From those early potluck-style parties to today’s full-scale charity events, the heart of what we do hasn’t changed: bring people together to make a difference. Each gathering is open-invite and friend-of-a-friend—welcoming over 100 attendees per event, all coming together to have fun and give back.

With every event, we collect and donate:

Toys (winter event)
Personal hygiene items
Food
Books
Monetary donations

These donations directly support impactful St. Louis–area organizations such as:

Empower North County
Fuel Packs of Grace Church
IAM Automotive Local 777 Scholarship Fund
Local School District Families
Santa’s Helpers
SHARE Pregnancy & Infant Loss
The Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
Trinity Church & Food Bank
Waymakers

We believe in the power of community and the ripple effect of small acts of kindness. Whether it’s ensuring a child has a toy to unwrap, a family has a warm meal, or someone feels seen and supported, our mission is simple: to make giving easy, meaningful, and fun.

Thanks to our incredible network of volunteers, sponsors, donors, and supporters, the Buchheit Foundation continues to grow—raising thousands of dollars and collecting thousands of essential items every year.