Scott Elkins Named Volunteer of the Year

Pathward®, N.A. has selected Scott Elkins, Vice President of our Financial Intelligence Unit, as its 2022 Volunteer of the Year. For 22 years, he has dedicated hundreds of hours as a Junior Achievement (JA) classroom volunteer, fundraiser, and volunteer motivator. In addition to this work, he engages with veterans through organizations in the Sioux Falls area of South Dakota and coordinates aid and effort through Pathward’s Military Veteran’s Network, an employee resource group.

Lynn Boyd, a fellow JA classroom volunteer and Pathward employee, said of Elkins’ nomination, “He’s making a huge impact across the [Sioux Falls] community. Both in the lives of young people and the elderly.”

After receiving the news, Elkins was shocked. During a recent interview, he shared:

“I came home, and I told Mindy [my wife] that I had some news.’”

“She goes ‘oh boy, what’s that?’ (thinking it might not be happy news).”

“I was named volunteer of the year!”

“I’m not surprised at all,” she responded.

The following volunteer highlights demonstrate Elkins’ consistency and care to the greater Sioux Falls community:

• 22 years of teaching hundreds of elementary school students the importance of money management through the JA curriculum
• Raising thousands of dollars for JA through local bowl-a-thons, while also recruiting dozens of classroom volunteers through events and career networks
• Providing support at veterans stand down events where volunteers provide food, clothing, and health screenings for homeless and at-risk veterans. In 2021 and 2022, Elkins helped coordinate Pathward’s participation in the events, which involved distributing clothing items to veterans in need.
• And, most recently, helping out with events through Wings of Valor, a gathering place to motivate and empower veterans through the outdoors.

Elkins finds time to volunteer while also serving as a leader in FIU, husband to Mindy and father of four to Jacob, Luke, Adam, and Sophya. Volunteering, he said, came naturally, knowing it would serve as a way to bond with his community and children over the long term. That’s when he landed on JA.

“I have a soft spot there due to how we can impact children. I love going into the classroom and interacting with the fourth graders. Plus, they still think I’m funny,” said Elkins.

As the recipient of Pathward’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year award, Pathward will donate $5,000 to the non-profit organization of Elkins’ choice. In recognition of his involvement, JA will receive the financial contribution to its South Dakota Chapter.

Through Pathward’s Community Impact Program, eligible employees can take 16 hours of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) each year. And by logging volunteer hours, employees can direct up to $320/year to their favorite qualifying nonprofit through our Dollars for Doers program. Learn more about how Pathward is giving back. 

Launched in 2021, Pathward’s Community Impact Program promotes a culture of charitable investment through time and gifts. In our first year, we delivered nearly $700,000 in charitable investments, logged more than 4,000 employee volunteer hours, and employees took 740 hours of VTO. For these efforts, The American Bankers Association Foundation honored Pathward with its 2022 Community Commitment Award.

Pathward encourages employee engagement in the communities we serve. Learn more about careers and employee benefits at Pathward.

About Pathward®
Pathward®, N.A., a national bank, is a subsidiary of Pathward Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASH). Pathward is a U.S.-based financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion. Pathward strives to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity across our Banking as a Service and Commercial Finance business lines. The strategic business lines provide end-to-end support to individuals and businesses. 

About Junior Achievement of South Dakota
Junior Achievement enhances South Dakota through an innovative partnership between the business community, educators and volunteers, Junior Achievement of South Dakota helps young people connect with relevant learning and the importance of staying in school. JA sparks students to develop competitive skills and confidence. Their success bolsters the local workforce and contributes to economic growth. For more information, visit SouthDakota.JA.org.