Osaic Foundation
Newsletter
- Group Volunteerism: Three questions
with Robert Toczylowski of Symmetry Financial Partners - Announcing our 2026 Foundation Board
- 2025: A Year Of Giving, a Year of Grace: Stacy O’Keeffe
- Local Community Grant Program opens March 1
- Upcoming Volunteer Calendar of Events
- Invest in Others: Celebrating our 8 Industry Award finalists
- Team Osaic “Makes Strides…” to fight breast cancer
- Volunteers in Action: A Recap
- Previous issues: Osaic Foundation Newsletter archive
Three questions with Robert Toczylowski, CFP® CPFA®, Partner at Symmetry Financial Partners
Robert Toczylowski shares his passion for community service with others at his firm -- and also many of his clients. "If we remember we are always here to serve our clients first, we will not only grow as advisors but help to grow the community that we serve.”
Robert (back row, 2nd from right), is pictured with others from Symmetry during a group volunteer event Nov. 20 at So What Else, a local food bank, an effort supported with a $500 grant from the Osaic Foundation.
Symmetry Financial Partners is based in Fulton, Maryland, located in Montgomery County just north of Washington, D.C. Our team of six has been providing our clients with wealth management and financial planning services for over two decades. Before Journey to One we were with Woodbury. OSAIC allows us to always put our clients' needs first. If we remember we are always here to serve our clients first, we will not only grow as advisors but help to grow the community that we serve. We appreciate that the OSAIC Foundation supports the outreach in our community. Their support has allowed me to deepen relationships with our community partners and many clients that have come to support our events.
There are three charities we have volunteered our time with: First Fruits Farm (three years), which raises vegetables for soup kitchens and shelters; Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County (two years), which builds new homes for those in need (see related recap story below); and this Fall for the first time, So What Else, a local food bank.
I first met Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer over a decade ago. I have always felt my purpose was to help others and I appreciate that Habitat for Humanity gives people a hand-up and not a handout. One of the values I find most compelling is that the new owners must help with the build and cannot take ownership of their property until they have their own “Sweat Equity.”
October brought our group back to First Fruits Farm, where we had a very productive morning harvesting 44,000 pounds of potatoes. The food grown at First Fruits often goes straight out the door to local food banks, providing much-needed support to members of our community who need it most.
In November, we were able to experience a meaningful full-circle moment by also volunteering with So What Else, Inc.—one of the organizations that receives food harvested from First Fruits. Our day of service included distributing essential items such as food, diapers, baby formula, and clothing to families in need. This incredible organization supports more than 900 families every week, and we’re grateful to play a small part in their mission.
I became a financial advisor because I’m passionate about helping people reach their goals—both financially and personally. Volunteering is one of the ways I love giving back. Every time I take part, it’s an incredibly fulfilling experience that reminds me why community matters so much.
Volunteering also brings our team together, strengthens our connections, and allows us to make a meaningful impact in the community we live in and proudly serve. Many of our clients have shared that participating alongside us is a rewarding experience, giving them the opportunity to improve the quality of life for others while getting to know the Symmetry Team on a more personal level. My goal has always been to serve our community. As clients have seen me working alongside them in the community, this has led to introductions to friends and family who have similar passions to serve.
We have found that the Fall is an ideal time to volunteer, as it ushers in the season of giving and allows our team to set a positive tone for the end of the year. Each volunteer opportunity engages our clients in different ways, allowing them to contribute their skills to the community in a tangible, meaningful way. On average, we have about 10–15 volunteers participate in each event.
Announcing our 2026 Foundation Board
At its annual meeting Dec. 9. the Foundation Board approved four new members: Darlene Carey, Mary Gordon, Zach Parker and Brent Pryor. Six remaining members were also confirmed for an additional term: Stacy O’Keeffe, John DiMonda, Allison Cooper, Jenny My Le and Carolyn McKinley.
Assisting the Board are Executive Director Patrick Brennan, Josh Dunforth and Jennifer Vawter.
The Board also expressed appreciation to three departing board members: Aiyisha Adams, Dalchand Laljit and its founding chairman, Lon Dolber.
A Year of Giving, A Year of Grace
Stacy O’Keeffe, SVP, Advisor Engagement, and President and Chair, Osaic Foundation
The essay below was distributed to Osaic employees earlier this month; it is repeated here for the benefit of all our financial advisors and staff who have shared in the Osaic Foundation mission this past year, or who are intrigued to participate in 2026.
The most meaningful work happens in quiet moments where people choose to care.
When I stepped into the role of President and Chair of the Osaic Foundation in early 2025, I didn’t know what the year would hold—only that keeping people at the center would grow something good.
This first year has been full of quiet moments: students finding their voice, veterans pushing forward, Advisors trading suits for jerseys, and volunteers reading grant applications late at night because someone’s story mattered.
Through it all, one feeling stands out: gratitude.
Where It Started: A Spark and a Promise
The beginning wasn’t a grand strategy or committee meeting. It began on a stage in December 2024 at the VE International Winning Women in Business panel in New York City, surrounded by young women who reminded me why leadership is a privilege. I expected to speak; instead, I listened. They asked real questions about purpose, fear, money, confidence, making mistakes and trying anyway.
Something shifted for me that day.
That single event with 90 students, joined by Osaic Financial Professionals and Home Office teammates, turned into a promise that it wouldn’t be a one-time moment. Those students deserved seats at bigger tables. So, we invited them to our national events!
From there, our support for VE grew.
- 700 students joined us through VE programs, national events, mentorship sessions, and conversations with advisors who saw themselves in these kids.
- 26 Advisors showed up—volunteering, mentoring, sponsoring travel, reviewing business plans, and most importantly, listening.
Standing Beside Our Veterans
This year also brought us back to one of our most sacred partnerships: World T.E.A.M and the Face of America races.
Supporting veterans and adaptive athletes isn’t about heroism from afar. It’s about presence. Standing on the sidelines with Osaic colleagues and friends, cheering for someone who has faced more than we’ll ever understand and still chooses to show up.
288 Acts of Trust: Local Community Grants
One of the most humbling parts of this year was leading our 2025 Local Community Grants Program. Compassion became action:
- Nearly $500,000 awarded to 288 charities in 231 communities across 37 states—$67,000 more than last year.
- Grants funded the advancement of health and human services, education, arts, and civic initiatives.
None of this happens without our sub-committees, Financial Professionals, and Home Office employees, who volunteered countless hours reading submissions, debating impact, shedding tears as they read stories, and celebrating every “yes” we were able to give.
Some stories that stayed with me:
- A small non-profit getting a new website and a second chance at visibility.
- Restoring a Little League field where my son has played for eight years—watching kids run onto that field fills me with gratitude for my community that invests in its youth. (Go Highlighters!)
- Funding financial literacy for survivors of domestic violence—because freedom isn’t just emotional, it’s financial.
Advisor-Led Impact
Every conversation we had about the Foundation and the local community throughout the year sparked action, with Advisors across the Osaic network organizing numerous local service projects.
- Milwaukee: The first office-led advisor event, where volunteers cleaned and restored a soybean field that supports food donations.
- Florida: Cleaning up and assisting communities after the hurricane—quietly, without spotlight. Just neighbors helping neighbors.
- New York City: Our annual NYC Foundation softball game raised $11,000 for two 9/11 charities (Tunnel to Towers) and Building Homes for Heroes with a record-breaking 80 Financial Professionals and Home Office teammates playing for a meaningful cause. In a tight, hard-fought match-up, the Financial Professionals won. But the real victory? Connection, laughter, and community in action.
What This Year Has Taught Me
- Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice. It is about making space for others.
- Advisors are more than Financial Professionals. They are mentors, partners, community builders, and givers.
- Gratitude is not a closing remark; it’s a leadership strategy.
- Community is not created by programs; it is built by people showing up for each other. Having fun. And, doing good—together.
Looking Ahead
We are planning an even more robust agenda for 2026:
- More student engagement at regional and national events.
- Continued support for veterans and adaptive athletes.
- Growth of our grant program.
- A focus on Advisor-led service projects.
Always rooted in kindness, empathy, and action.
From My Heart
To everyone who gave time, voice, or presence: thank you. The Foundation isn’t built on programs, but on people who choose service over spotlight and show up for each other.
Elsewhere in this newsletter you can see the many ways to get involved in 2026, and see examples of the many moments this past year that celebrate kindness, and demonstrate what community looks like in action. If you have questions or want to share your own reflections on an impactful year of doing good, I hope you will do so by sending in an email to osaicfoundation@osaic.com.
2026 Local Community Grant Program opens March 1
Osaic’s local community grant program honors the charitable organizations that are near and dear to your heart by providing grants ranging from $500-$10,000 to an eligible 501(c)3 organization you actively volunteer with. Support is aligned to the level and length of your volunteer time.
Our Osaic Foundation Community Grant Program provides an opportunity for you to secure funding for the nonprofit programs, projects, and organizations you support—extending the impact you already have.
The projects and programs eligible for funding include:
The next application period for the annual Osaic Foundation Local Community Grant Program will run from March 1-31, 2026. A link to the online application and worksheet will be distributed to all Financial Professionals, their Support Staff, and home office employees closer to that date. It will include an overview of the program and any changes for 2026.
Note that applications can only be made by Osaic Financial Professionals, their Support Staff, or a home office employee—no applications or requests can be submitted directly by a charity. The grant consideration process is based largely on the Osaic volunteer’s frequency, number of years, and personal hands-on role at the charity.
Grant applications are reviewed in the April timeframe by regional committees and recommendations subsequently submitted to the Osaic Foundation Board of Directors for final review and approval. Grants are disbursed in the May/June timeframe.
View a summary of previous recipients, listed by region, state and city:
Volunteer opportunities to elevate your impact
Regional volunteers are needed on each of the following program or event committees to share ideas on logistics and execution. This is a wonderful opportunity to network, build relationships, and ensure an outstanding outcome for our participants and designated charities! We will also be partnering with Osaic Advisor Engagement this year for volunteerism tied to Community Meetups.
To learn more or offer your help on any of the areas below, drop a quick email indicating your interest to: osaicfoundation@osaic.com.
Celebrating our 8 Industry Award finalists
The Osaic Foundation has supported for many years the Invest in Others (IIO) Industry Awards as a way of affirming the most outstanding volunteer efforts of our Osaic financial professionals when ranked against their peers at other firms.
For 2025, Osaic had 48 nominees and 2 finalists and 6 honorable mentions. Although none achieved the top award in their category this year, we are proud to celebrate their achievements. IIO Honorable Mention nominees receive $2,000 grants to the charity they volunteer at, and finalists receive $25,000 for their charity. Note that the 2026 application period for IIO will begin in March, closely concurrent with the Foundation’s Local Community Grant Program.
Shown here is the program ad used at the IIO awards dinner this past September in Boston.
Team Osaic “Makes Strides” to fight breast cancer
From New York to California, from Minnesota to Florida, more than 270 Osaic financial professionals (FPs), their staff and home office employees turned out in October at 28 “Making Strides” city walks to raise funds to fight breast cancer.
The team effort raised $32,226, including a $12,000 grant from the Osaic Foundation. The La Vista site additionally conducted two onsite walks on its own campus for more teamwork and participation.
Enterprise-wide events like this don’t just happen: we salute our local site Employee Activities Committee captains and regional FP leads for their local support. Our 2026 program co-leads were Employee Jennifer Vawter in Florida and FP Carol Underwood of Conforti Financial in California.
During its annual “All Practice Volunteer Day” Sept. 26, the team at Steadwise Wealth Advisors in Hauppauge, Long Island, NY, volunteered 21 hours doing property clean-up at SEATUCK, a marine ecosystem conservation charity.
Steadwise is part of Affiliated Advisors, one of Osaic's largest enterprise OSJs. They have made team volunteering their time a routine part of their operation and have supported multiple local charities, often joined by clients and family members.
Wealth Advisor Robert Martino of Steadwise notes, “I believe in service above self as a way to give back to your community and the world for the success that we have.”
In recognition of their combined 21 hours of volunteer time, the Osaic Foundation gave a grant of $500 to SEATUCK.
Employees at Osaic offices in both Atlanta and La Vista took time out in November to write personal notes of gratitude to veterans which were later distributed in local events in each city. Many other Osaic employees also wrote letters for use in multi-city Honor Flight ceremonies.
The La Vista site effort was led by Becky Bentz and included a card-making station where employees could write a message (photo, upper left). The 200+ cards were then delivered to veterans attending the annual Salute to Veterans Celebration where La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig thanked area veterans personally (photo, bottom left). The Osaic Foundation also awarded a $1,500 grant to the La Vista Community Foundation, which sponsors the annual event.
The Atlanta site effort, led by EAC leader Leslie Cuccia, received extra help from attendees at a Wealth Management Support Academy. Letter-writers included two veterans (center and right): Eric Washington (Marine Corps), and Shari Atkism (Air Force); and (bottom center and right) Missy Nelson and David Kass, who is wearing a pin as he writes to honor the memory of his father who served in the 78th Infantry Lighting Division during WWII. David notes, “He was a Combat Engineer and saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. He was injured but always shared with me that he considered himself very fortunate to return home to his family as many in his unit were not as fortunate. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his act of courage and sacrifice.”
A team of four members of Symmetry Financial Partners in Fulton, Maryland, participated in a team volunteer event this Fall for Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County, their second year assisting the nonprofit. The HFH home they worked on this year was a three-bedroom, single family structure where a young family will have a beautiful home to make family memories.
Jasmine A. Showers of Osaic Relationship Management also serves as the Osaic Foundation rep for Cleveland Honor Flight Cleveland. She joined veterans as a Guardian (wheelchair escort) during their Nov. 1 trip (photo). The Cleveland nonprofit received a $5,000 donation from the Osaic Foundation.
Jasmine notes, “It was a truly humbling experience that I would recommend everyone that is able to do at least once. It was wonderful to see first-hand the real impact that Osaic’s efforts make in the Honor Flight Program, and I’m glad that I can be a small part of that.”
Employees at the La Vista site have had a long-term relationship with American Red Cross chapter for Nebraska and Iowa for many years, hosting regular blood drives and helping with disaster relief efforts in a region prone to flooding and tornados. Additionally, David Peterson, Chief Compliance Officer for WealthPlan Partners OSJ of Omaha, volunteers on the Red Cross board, co-chairs the Osaic Foundation Disaster Relief committee with Sr. HR Business Partner Carolyn McKinley. To recognize the overall combined volunteer time and the readiness focus of the American Red Cross, a $10,000 grant from the Foundation was made this fall to the local Nebraska-Iowa chapter.
A cross-functional team of 11 employees from the Oakdale site recently completed their 5th project in four years with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. The team volunteered a total of 88 hours, hauling and hanging sheetrock and priming and painting the home.
Participants came from Finance (Erik Eveland, Matt Schoh, Caleb Tangen, and Lee Underdahl), Supervision (Rick Anderson and Sam Bjellos), Commissions (Michelle McGlade, Nicole Hartmann), Recruiting (Alisha Huebel), Business Continuity (Kurt Mueller), and Advisor Engagement (Lisa Seeley).
The La Vista site, located in Sarpy County, NE., collected more than 100 canned goods during a November food drive which the La Vista Community Foundation delivered to a local Sarpy County food pantry, Neighbor Good. In recognition of the volunteer effort, the Osaic Foundation awarded a $1,500 grant to the La Vista Community Foundation.
Celebrating the success of the effort, organized by the Employee Activities Committee, in photos at right are several members of the Trading & Operations team: Left to right: Brenna Nelson, Laurie Wake, Heather Lankton, Bill Stanton, Lauren McGeehan, Julie Dean and Jerry Millner.
The La Vista site conducted a week-long collection of school supplies in the summer as part of the Foundation’s enterprise-wide Back to School campaign supporting both online donations and local office collections like this one. More than 2,100 separate items were collected and donated to the La Vista Community Foundation for use at two local schools, G. Stanley Hall Elementary and La Vista Middle School. In center, bottom photo, Osaic Foundation Board Member and Sr. HR Business Partner Carolyn McKinley at left congratulates the team effort.
In the past two years the Osaic Foundation has donated $10,000 to Building Homes for Heroes, a New York based nonprofit that provides programs and mortgage-free houses to improve the lives of injured veterans, Gold Star families and first responders in communities across the U.S.
The Foundation grants recognize the volunteer time of 75+ Team Osaic players who annually gather for an charity softball game in Battery Park each August, organized by Debbie DeLuca, Sales Enablement Manager (2nd from left). She and others from Osaic helped the charity celebrate its mission during a Nov. 20 event on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. At left in photo is Vince Leto, VP Business Development, Osaic, and to Debbie’s right are Carolyn Paszke of the nonprofit, and Kelly Durso, VP Business Development, Osaic.