2006 Public Service Award Recipient – Pat Elder
Heidi Frei
2006 Public Service Award recipient Pat Elder has been able to turn her volunteer work into a career she loves. Elder was named the executive director of the
Elder was introduced to the Komen Foundation through her work with the Junior League of Phoenix (JLP). JLP educates and trains women volunteers for community involvement and leadership; researches and develops programs to meet the changing needs of the community; and participates and contributes to community projects and programs through volunteer services, financial backing, and board representation. Pat has been a member of JLP since 1992 and served three terms on the board of directors.
“Three Junior League members lost a friend that had a young daughter to breast cancer,” Elder said. “They wanted to do something to help fight breast cancer. They wanted to bring the Race for the Cure to
Elder quickly increased her responsibilities with the race, moving up to registration chair in one year. Her duties included making sure race entries and posters were distributed throughout the community to increase the number of participants and funds raised.
In 1999, Elder served on the Grant Review Committee to help evaluate grant proposals and awarded more than $700,000 in race proceeds. “That was very meaningful and a very heavy responsibility,” she said. “We were getting the money to organizations to help primarily the underserved and uninsured.”
In 2005, Elder’s passion for Komen brought her to her current position as executive director. She learned about the position while on a break during an ASCPA board meeting. “I was having a conversation with Nancy Roach,” Elder said. “She said, ‘You need to come to the good side.’ I asked her what side that was. She said, ‘The nonprofit side.’” Roach told Elder about the positionat Komen and she was named the new executive director in July.
“Elder’s biggest contribution to Komen and the Junior League and even the ASCPA is that she is passionate about the causes she aligns with,” says Nancy Roach. ”She volunteered with Komen in many capacities before turning that passion into a career.”
Elder has also been able to use her knowledge as a CPA to help organizations succeed.
“As executive director you are running the business,” Elder said. “The board sets the strategy and vision and the executive director and staff execute it. To run a business you need to have financial acumen and that’s what you get from being a CPA.”
“Elder’s biggest contribution to Komen has been her professional skills in getting our office run in a business manner,” Kay Thompson, president of the Phoenix Affiliate of the Komen Foundation, said. “She also understands the role of a volunteer.”
Elder also used these skills as treasurer of the Junior League. “As the Treasurer of the JLP, she brought her technical expertise in financial management to the business side of the League,” Carolyn Evani, fellow board member said. “Her duties in this capacity also included ongoing training of the League membership and leadership in financial and fiduciary responsibilities and the importance of proper resource management. Pat’s training was very effective and raised the level of professionalism in the entire organization.”
Please join us in honoring Pat Elder for her contributions at the ASCPA Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on May 17 at the Arizona Biltmore. We will also be honoring the 2005 Award recipient, Bill Hodges, CPA. Registration is available at www.ascpa.com.
AZ CPA – May 2006
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