Roseville,Calif.- Baird, an international, employee-owned wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm, has named Patricia Estopinal the 2014 recipient of the Brenton H. Rupple Citizenship Award, the firm’s highest community service honor.
The award, which is bestowed on one associate each year for his or her outstanding dedication to community service and support, was presented to Estopinal at Baird’s annual meeting on March 6. The award includes a donation from Baird Foundation to the charity of Estopinal’s choice.
Estopinal, Director, Financial Advisor, in Baird’s Roseville, Calif., branch, joined Baird in 2012. She is the 17th recipient of the award, first presented in 1998 to the late Brenton Rupple, Sr., former Baird President and Chairman of the Board. Rupple devoted countless hours throughout his life to more than 40 civic and charitable organizations and college boards.
Estopinal gives back to her community in many ways. For more than 25 years, she has organized a Thanksgiving food drive for needy families. She works with local organizations to identify families with the most need and distributes the meals herself. Last year, the Roseville office provided 40 area families with Thanksgiving dinner. During the holidays, Estopinal spearheads efforts to collect toys, clothing items and decorations. More than 200 toys and clothing items were donated last year through her efforts. She then wrapped the presents and delivered them with her daughter on Christmas Eve.
Still, Estopinal finds more ways to give back. She completed training to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate to help children in the foster care system. In this role, she volunteers an average of 20 hours per month as a mentor to a foster child. She also serves as a liaison between the foster parent and social worker and acts on behalf of the child at court appearances.
Estopinal has also worked on the board and finance committee of Sol Aureus College Preparatory Charter School in Sacramento. The school aims to help middle schoolers aspire to attend college. Many of the students will be first-generation college graduates. She not only helped establish the school more than 10 years ago, but she is also involved in its ongoing fundraising efforts.
“Before she came to Baird, our branch gave back in various ways,” said Adam Persily, Branch Manager of Baird’s Roseville office. “But, when she joined the team, our efforts grew. We do so much more now, thanks to her dedication and leadership.”
Baird’s commitment to the community
Baird has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities in which its associates live and work, both on a corporate and individual level. Baird Foundation provides support to charitable organizations and Baird associates actively volunteer in their communities. Baird’s firm wide Charitable Gift Matching Program provides a match for associates’ financial contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations. Associates also receive two paid days off each year to perform volunteer service through the “Baird Cares” program.
Each year, associates team up during Baird Gives Back Week to help with projects such as preparing and serving food, tutoring students, working with seniors, building homes, and cleaning up parks. In 2013, more than 1,250 Baird associates and family members donated 3,800 volunteer hours during the week of May 13-18 to help approximately 100 non-profit organizations worldwide.