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Carl and Paula Zielonka enjoy going places together. Their passion for travel has landed them in 37 different countries with still more on their go-to list. They want their donations to have a specific destination as well. Whether it is to educate young leaders in the Tampa Jewish community or to help less fortunate people, they have chosen to make their philanthropic contributions through the TOP Jewish Foundation endowment and philanthropic funds.
"The idea that we can perpetuate a cause that is important to us and make sure it has funding forever appealed to us both," explained Paula. "My parents were very involved in their community of Shreveport, Louisiana, and they were generous donors. Their community lost that support when they died, so I wanted to establish an endowment that would still be here when I am not." That decision lead to Paula's Lion of Judah endowment. The Zielonkas have three other charitable endeavors through TOP as well: one focused on leadership development for Tampa Jewish Family Services, one that will provide an education endowment for Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, and a philanthropic fund that is used for various annual and special contributions.
Philanthropy has been a cornerstone in Carl and Paula's lives. Carl's father was Rabbi at Congregation Schaarai Zedek for 47 years, and Paula's parents' donations benefited charitable causes in her hometown and in Israel. At the Shreveport Federation, her mother served as chairperson of the Women's Division and her father as campaign chairman. "Even as children, we learned that you were supposed to be active in the charitable aspects of your community," she said.
Carl and Paula have been involved in TOP activities since its inception. Carl became a trustee 15 years ago, and continued to serve as a local trustee and chair and as TOP President from 2009-2011. His humanitarian leadership has touched many lives in Tampa Bay over the years on "just about every board in the Federation family, Jewish Family Services, the Jewish Community Center, and the Tampa Jewish Federation." He is a Past-President of Schaarai Zedek, was on the national executive committee of AIPAC, and served as Florida Regional Chairman of the National Young Leadership Cabinet of the UJA. While maintaining a four-day a week general dentistry practice in Tampa, Carl also volunteers as a docent at the Tampa Bay History Center and as "keeper of the archives" at Schaarai Zedek.
Paula too has played many roles in the Jewish community, serving on the board of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Village Assisted Living residences for 8 years, as president of Tampa Jewish Family Services, as chair of the Russian Resettlement committee in the 1970s and 1980s, on the National Young Leadership Cabinet of UJA, on the National Board of the Women of Reform Judaism, on the National Board of the Association of Jewish Family and Children's Services, and as co-president of Sisterhood at the Schaarai Zedek for two years. She continues to volunteer, raising funds for Friends of Weinberg Village, and helping Tampa Bay Job Links to find employment for the Tampa Bay Jewish community. As a former university professor at University of South Florida in the College of Education for 16 years and at the University of Tampa, Paula taught reading and language arts to elementary school teachers and supervised student teachers. She served as Chair of the USF Library and on the board of the Florida Reading Association as editor of its newsletter.
Both Carl and Paula know the importance of educating people, especially about donating to worthy causes. Carl said, "We are trying to educate people to show that they can give to whatever charity they want to support. TOP is not restricted to the local Jewish community. If someone has a charitable inclination, they can create endowments or make contributions through TOP to universities, hospitals, and other charitable organizations all over the country." Paula concurs and adds, "TOP helps to ensure that the Tampa Jewish community has the funds to do good work not only in our community, but also internationally and nationally. With an endowment, you know that your gift will endure." Carl explains that their endowments provide an annual distribution of 5 percent of the value of the fund every year to the designated charities. Both endowments and philanthropic funds are irrevocable gifts; however, endowments have a specific purpose and disbursement schedule, while philanthropic funds are donor-advised and allow disbursements at any time.
Besides the money they raise for worthy causes, the Zielonkas are proud of the family they have raised-son Stephen in Denver, daughter and son-in-law Caryn and Amnon Izhar in Boston, and grandchild, Noam. Through frequent visits, they nurture family bonds and hope to continue their legacy of generosity through their endowments and their children's future involvement in their own communities. "We try to set an example," says Carl, and Paula agrees. "We want to know that our endowments are doing something worthwhile, going to the Federation, Israel, our Synagogue, and the local community. We want to help people here and around the world. That's important to both of us."
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