Nick Lippa, Chairman of the Board
CFK Foundation presents "Meet the Board", providing a chance for our donor base to get to know us and why we are so passionate about what we do!
Nick Lippa: Chairman of the Board
· Favorite Color: Green
· Favorite Food: Steak
· Favorite Sport: Play – Soccer/Watch – Football
· Vacation Spot, Beach or Mountains: Beach. There is nothing I can think of that is more relaxing than sitting on a beach watching and listening to the waves crash onto the beach.
How did you become involved with the CFK Foundation?
Wow, where do I start? My journey with the foundation started roughly two decades ago. My brother and fellow CFK Foundation Board Member, Nate Lippa, and Colin Kennedy were very close friends throughout high school at McQuaid Jesuit High School. I then entered high school with Colin’s brothers Con, Carroll and Richard a couple years thereafter. We had similar upbringings and values and immediately gravitated to become very close as well. From there, it was only natural for me to become a part of the CFK Foundation when I was approached by them during the inception of the foundation. There is not a foundation or family that I would rather be working alongside of.
What is it that motivates you to give back to your community?
I believe my personal motivation to give back can be traced back to my upbringing and childhood. One of my first memories is attending (maybe by force at the time) church with my Nonna (grandmother) when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I remember a couple people came to each pew with a basket and my Nonna put an envelop in the basket. She then turned to me, and I will always remember what she said to me. She said, “It is important to help those in need because you never know when you may be in need of help.” That has been imprinted in my brain throughout my life and I am grateful to be in a position today to be able to have the resources and reach to help those within my community. Another example that has really shaped me as a person is when I was growing up playing soccer. I played on a team that traveled extensively throughout the country. My parents did not always have the luxury to be able to afford the weekend trips to other states which would require hotels, meals, gas and many other expenses. I was fortunate enough to have teammates that had the means and would take me to the tournaments with them (thank you Mr. and Mrs. Mort and Mrs. DiPaola in particular).
What challenges do you see for our future generations?
I see many challenges but I also see so many intelligent, bright, and passionate and caring young individuals that are ready to step up to any challenge. Take Colin’s son, Carlin, for example. He is currently in high school, doing very well with his studies, playing varsity soccer and still manages to volunteer countless hours with us at CFK Foundation. He has done things from helping to ring the bell outside of stores with The Salvation Army to helping pack school supplies in backpacks that were then donated to a local school for their students. These types of individuals will make sure they succeed by any means necessary and I have all the faith in the world in them.
What brings you gratitude in life?
Many things in life bring me gratitude but being able to give back to communities that have shaped me and given me the lessons to learn from and be successful ultimately bring me the most gratitude.
How do you define success?
If you were to ask me this question when I was in high school, my answer would probably be based around how much money an individual earns. Today, however, I realize that is not what is important with success. Today, I would define success with how much of a positive influence one can have on those around him/herself and how he/she can provide positive resources to individuals that need it to push them to do/be better.
Why is it important to you to give back?
Honestly, it gives me a sense of purpose. From the example earlier with my Nonna to other experiences in my life, giving back has always been something that has been embedded in me. Whether that means donating money, my thoughts or my time, there is not a feeling that is more gratifying to me than knowing I am making a positive difference in someone’s life.
What does “community” mean to you?
To me, community means being there for one another. It doesn’t necessarily mean any group of individuals that live in the same geographical area, but who can be there to support and lean on each in times of need. That is what will get us through any challenge or tough time.
Who inspires you?
Outside of my family, I would have to say those that are less fortunate than me inspire me the most. They inspire me to work that extra hour, donate that extra dollar or give back that extra hour of time that I have. Being able to give back to the underprivileged is what we pride ourselves on here at CFK Foundation.
How do you prepare yourself to overcome hurdles professionally & personally?
What works for me is addressing one task or one hurdle at a time. I prioritize what tasks are the most important or what will provide the most value and start with those. From there, I work my way down to ensure everything I have prioritized has been completed.
If you had all the money in the world, what would you do with it?
First, I would look to those that are close to me and I would take any financial burden they may be experiencing off of their plate. Then I would look to the foundation to grow our reach into many communities to help as many individuals and families as possible.
What does the next 5 years for the CFK Foundation look like?
The next 5 years for the foundation looks as bright as ever! I see us perfecting our current model of being a small organization that is able to overcome the challenges that come along with our scale allowing us to provide resources and support to a large number of individuals and families. I see more events occurring each year which will in turn allow us to provide more scholarships, more back to school supplies, more holiday meals and more resources in general to a growing number of communities that we operate in.