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MACPA Members Give Back
Stories of CPAs Making a Difference in their Communities
Editor’s Note:
CPAs are trusted advisors to businesses, organizations and individuals,
helping them make sound financial decisions. But, Michigan CPAs go much
further than that. Our members are an extremely dedicated group of
volunteers who spend countless hours devoted to causes and organizations
within their communities. They know there are real people and real problems
behind the numbers. Our members’ tremendous level of volunteerism and
personal commitment in their communities is extraordinary. For that reason,
we are proud to highlight the CPA profession’s important contributions to
Michigan citizens and communities.
When Volunteering Is a Good Fit, You’ll Know It
For Walt Koziol, finding a good “fit” for volunteering with a non-profit
organization is simple. His advice: “Start small. Volunteer on the finance
committee or help with a project. You’ll get a good feel for the
organization. If it’s right – it’ll grab you.”
That’s what happened when he began working with Hospice of Michigan. And
Sweet Dreamzzz; and Ronald McDonald House; and the Chamber Music Society;
and others before that.
The key, he says, is to think about what you’re most interested in. There’s
likely an organization related to that interest.
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| Walt Koziol, CPA, and his wife
Jeannie at the 2011 Hospice of Michigan (HOM) Crystal Rose Ball. Walt
serves on the HOM Board of Trustees. |
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Retired from BDO and a past Chair of the Board of the MACPA, Walt has
remained active in the MACPA and other professional activities. He also
currently lends his professional expertise to charitable groups, including
serving on numerous boards and committees with Hospice of Michigan (HOM) and
on the advisory board of Sweet Dreamzzz, an organization devoted to
providing sleep education and bedtime essentials for at-risk school
children.
Walt’s involvement with Hospice of Michigan began a few years ago, when he
learned about the organization through contacts at the MACPA. He started
small, he explained, by serving on HOM’s Southeast Michigan Advisory Board,
which met just a few times per year. Because of his CPA background, he began
asking questions about finances, so they asked him to serve on the finance
and audit committee.
“Same thing happened with investments,” he laughed. “Then I became chair of
the Southeast Michigan Advisory Committee, which automatically put me on the
board of trustees of the entire organization.”
As his role with Hospice evolved, Walt’s involvement also became very
personal. He and his family used HOM services for two family members during
their final days. This first-hand experience with HOM solidified Walt’s
commitment to the mission and purpose of the organization.
“We were so impressed with the genuine care and concern for our family, and
the range of services they provide,” he said. “Their mission is to provide
for quality of life, comfort and peace for the patients; and support for
their families. They were wonderful with helping us to understand the
process of dying and what to expect.”
“When you believe strongly in an organization, it feels good to be part of
it,” he said.
If you are giving back to the community, the MACPA wants to know! Submit
your story to
publications@michcpa.org to be considered for an upcoming issue of
Leaders' Edge.
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November/December 2011
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