Where Good Begins: Paul Czepiga
Recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine for three consecutive years as one of Connecticut’s top attorneys in elder law, Attorney Paul Czepiga of the Berlin law firm CzepigaDalyPope is a proud supporter of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain and loyal donor to its Civic Leadership Fund. Both a CPA and practicing attorney in the Greater New Britain community for more than 30 years, Paul has an intimate understanding of the challenges of estate planning and an appreciation for the importance of keeping philanthropy local. CFGNB recently sat with Paul to discuss the importance of community and why, for him, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain is Where Good Begins.
Q) Tell us, Paul, about your personal commitment to community.
A) I think that as someone who has had a certain amount of personal and professional success, there is an obligation to give back, to make our community a better place to live if we can. We all have a certain degree of time, talent and treasure, and I try to do a little in all of those area for causes I believe in.
Over the years, I’ve been involved with the New Britain-Berlin YMCA, the Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, Berlin Lions Club and others. Right now I’m heavily involved as a board member with Hartford Healthcare’s VNA and Central Region board. I try to be as active in local causes as I can.
Q) You are a donor to the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s Civic Leadership Fund, which helps sustain Foundation operations so that it may continue serving the community. Why do you support the Community Foundation?
A) For me, it’s all about keeping it where you live. When I moved to Berlin after law school in 1984, my office was just down the street from where the then-New Britain Foundation for Public Giving was located. I believe in the Foundation because I like to keep money local so you can see its good works, and the Civic Leadership Fund is what helps sustains the great work the Foundation does.
Q) What about, from your professional advisor’s view, the Community Foundation as a resource?
A) This will give you an idea: With the kind of professional work I do, I get a lot of e-mails – CPAs, insurance agents, you name it. I look only at those that I know have value. The Foundation’s monthly Professional Advisor e-newsletter is the only one I read dealing with charitable works. It has made my cut because it has good content, and is one of the resources I rely upon for my charitable knowledge.
I also find the GiftLaw Pro resource for Professional Advisors on the Foundation’s Planned Giving website to be very helpful. There is just a wealth of information for professionals like me on virtually every aspect of planned giving.
Q) What would you say to someone about why they should support the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain?
A) The Foundation knows its community and is committed to its community – that is the bottom line and just a great calling card on their part. If you want to see what your money can do right here where you live – and not read about it in a magazine – the Community Foundation is the place.