Greater to give than to receive

As president of First Pioneer National Bank’s Holyoke branch, Tom Bennett has certainly seen his share of transactions, but there’s nothing transactional in his relationship with Holyoke, the community where he was born and raised.

He was very honored and pleased when he learned he had received the Citizen of the Year community excellence award from Holyoke Chamber of Commerce for 2021. “You don’t try to get awards, but you try to help your community and do what you think is right,” he said.

“Citizenship should not be self-centered. It really means giving more than you receive,” he said, adding that being a good citizen means doing what’s good for the community and the people around you. “Community means being a part of something — something that you’re very proud of.”

Bennett took his first job in Kansas City, Missouri, as a research associate for economists at the Federal Reserve Bank. After moving back to Holyoke, he began working at First Pioneer National Bank as a loan officer.

He is grateful to have had the chance to come back to his hometown and be involved and noted that there’s less of an opportunity to give back and effectuate positive change in a large city.

An article in the May 19, 1994, edition of the Enterprise described Bennett’s promotion to vice president/branch manager at First Pioneer National Bank.

In the article, Ken Garton, president of the First Pioneer National Bank office in Wray at the time, was quoted as saying, “Tom has demonstrated not only solid banking ability, but commitment to the Holyoke area.”

Bennett has certainly demonstrated that local commitment in numerous ways over the years.

He was part of the formation of the Phillips County Economic Development board, which strives to make a difference in the area by growing jobs and opportunities.

In the past, he’s been president of Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, on the budget committee and business advisory committee for the school, and a representative for Progressive 15.

He is currently on the housing committee and recreation advisory committee. He has coached high school baseball in the past and has been league president of the Border League. In addition to being a basketball official for 32 years, he also served as state treasurer for the statewide basketball association.

He noted that his involvement with baseball and basketball is another avenue to stay active in the community and be involved with kids, giving back by coaching and refereeing.

“Give back to the community and make it better than when you came,” he said. “It’s important to work collectively to do some good.”

His nominator wrote, “I call him my colleague, a boss, a mentor, a friend and as I always say that ‘little voice that is in the back of my head to keep on pushing.’ Behind every great story on growth and economics you know that Tom’s name was behind it.”

Bennett clearly demonstrated his dedication to his community when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. He was instrumental in developing the Help Holyoke fund, which assisted local businesses that were hit hardest and forced to shut down, such as local salons, restaurants, the gym and the theater.

The fund raised nearly $100,000 and redistributed $1,200 government stimulus checks to those in the greatest need.

“You do it because you want to give, not because you want to receive,” he said. “You’ll be blessed in the future if you give more than you receive and try to make things better.”

Bennett said people should strive to make their community somewhere that people can point to and say, “That’s a great place to live, and I’m proud of that.”

He added that children are the community’s future, and it’s important to foster their own growth and love of community.

He said for communities to be survivable, they need housing, schools, businesses and more. He added that with few options for child care, it’s a challenge to attract young people to a community. To that end, Bennett is chairman of the board of the Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative.

“After the year of 2020 and COVID,” his nominator wrote, “one would have thought that projects like the childcare would be hard to push forward with. Not Tom. He always has a vision and a plan.”

To date, about $1.6 million has been raised for the project, and although HCCI did not receive the Department of Local Affairs Energy Impact Grant that was applied for, Bennett said the plan is to try again for the DOLA grant, raise additional funds from the community and get the facility built to help the local community.

“When you’re done, you want to have said you made your community better,” Bennett said. “Never give up. Get a passion that gets you up in the morning.”

Regarding the amount of money already raised for HCCI, his nominator wrote, “This honestly wouldn’t have happened unless Tom himself didn’t pick up the phone and ask for donations ... I mean how can you say no to Tom?”

His nomination letter closed with sentiments that many Holyoke residents will no doubt echo, “I believe with all his dedication, drive and love for his community that Tom Bennett should be awarded Citizen of the Year.”

And with his philosophy centered on finding a passion, never giving up and giving more than receiving, he is a shining example for all residents who want to make their community a better place.