CAPE MAY – Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore Pops have announced that the board of directors for the orchestra approved the appointment of local Middle Township resident Karen Buckingham as the official Jersey Shore Pops Ambassador. Her duties will include greeting all patrons for all concerts that the popular orchestra holds and promoting the orchestra within the community.
Buckingham has been a volunteer with the popular orchestra for over a year hosting numerous after concert events, but the officials from the pops wanted to make her position more official. Dr. Nick Holland, president of the Jersey Shore Pops comments, “We are very excited to have such a creative person such as Karen to be our Ambassador. She has so much experience in the arts and entertainment arena and brings a fresh enthusiasm to our organization. The board of the our orchestra was so pleased to be able to invite her to participate in a more official capacity.”
Buckingham was born at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. where her father was transferred to from Paris Island, South Carolina where he served as a drill sergeant in the Marine Corps. She was raised in Voorhees, New Jersey and at the age of 14, moved to the Jersey Shore. While attending Wildwood High School, she met the love of her life, Russ Buckingham. After attending Stockton State College, Buckingham married Russ and together they have two children, Jacklyn 27 and Trevor 25. Trevor manages the Country Club Tavern in Swainton while Jacklyn is a Language Arts teacher with the Bridgeton School District. Jacklyn is also the featured singer for the Jersey Shore Pops as well as a member of the Shaken Not Stirred Players.
Aside from being Ambassador for the Jersey Shore Pops, Buckingham is a board member of the Theater Collaborative of South Jersey whose mission is to renovate and restore the Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point. She is also the president of the Middle Township Council for the Arts.
Always a community minded citizen, during Hurricane Irene in 2011, Buckingham created a Facebook page to help Cape May County stay connected. She was a comfort to those who stayed in Cape May County, and her page was used by emergency personnel as a way of communication. Her page is still running and has been adopted by the county. It is the #1 site on Facebook for Cape May County residents to find out about county events.
Last year, when Buckingham’s mother-in-law (Miriam Buckingham) passed away, she started a teddy bear drive in her name. The ‘Teddy Bear Roundup’ was created because of Miriam’s love of teddy bears. T
teddy bears were collected and distributed to area nursing homes during the holiday season. Last year over 300 teddy bears were placed in loving arms.
Buckingham also spends her time substitute teaching in the Middle Township School District. When not raising money for local charities and organizations, Buckingham loves to go on cruises with her family and friends. Buckingham and her husband honeymooned in Walt Disney World and have continued the tradition by taking their children there every year. Her home resembles a Disney museum.
Buckingham’s love for the arts developed over the years while watching her daughter Jacklyn perform at various area events throughout Cape May County. She loves to entertain at her Cape May Court House home, but is happiest spending her spare time doing for others. In her words, her biggest achievement is being the proud mother of Jacklyn and Trevor.
For more information on The Jersey Shore Pops Orchestra, please visit www.JerseyShorePops.org or call 609 628-4544.###
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