Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
GMCF Cornerstone Influence Award Winner Tom Fryer - Philanthropy Today Episode 160
Today, we chatted with Tom Fryer, the recipient of the Influence Cornerstone Award at the Community Foundation Awards. This award recognizes those who saw the potential of what a community foundation could do for Manhattan. During our discussion, we explored Tom’s background, and professional life, talked about his wife Angie, her work with the Fairy Godmothers, and his advice to young people wanting to do philanthropy work.
Welcome to Philanthropy Today. We're excited to share information on ways you can support the charitable causes of your choice. My name is Vern Hendricks and I look forward to being with you today on our GMCF Philanthropy Today podcast series. We're glad to be with you again today in our Cornerstone Award Series as we go through the awardees of Community Foundation Awards this year, and one of our awardees this year is Tom Fryer. How are you doing?
Speaker 2:I'm doing good.
Speaker 1:It's always great to visit with you. You've been a part of the Community Foundation since the early days and had so much involvement as a board member, as a treasurer and all kinds of things, so you know about the Community Foundation more than a lot of people do.
Speaker 2:We were honored, though, that the cornerstone just wasn't me. It included Angie, for a lot of things that she had done too. We were honored though that the cornerstone just wasn't me. It included Angie for a lot of things that she had done too.
Speaker 1:Indeed, and I'm glad you brought that up. So Angie was very integral in the Fairy Godmothers and so many other charities in the process, and so I want you to speak about her today too, when we go through it. But before we get started on a professional note, give us a little background on what you did in Manhattan, or even before that brought you to where you're at today.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, after college, graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1963 and went through pilot training, I was in the Air Force for 21 years. So we came here in 1981, and it was Air Force ROTC at K-State that brought us here. I did that for three years and then in 1984, I had 21 years in the Air Force, and so it was time to look for another career, and I got this opportunity at what was then.
Speaker 1:Union.
Speaker 2:National Bank and later became Commerce Bank. So at. Union National Bank I was initially on the retail side. We had a president by the name of Bill Edison then that wanted to be the first bank in Manhattan to have a brokerage department. So he came up and said, tom, I want you to get your Series 7 brokerage license. And then I got an insurance license and all, and so that's basically what I did and I managed that brokerage department until, let's see, 2005,. I guess is when my time was up.
Speaker 2:I turned 65 that year and it was time to move on, and now I'm enjoying retirement life.
Speaker 1:We spoke of Angie for our listeners. Angie's no longer with us today. Share a little bit about her life as well.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks for asking, because I was so blessed back in 1968 to meet this lady from Texas that thoroughly changed my life. We got married in 1968. Right, we're married for 54 years. But through the years I felt we were quite a team in that she was much more a people person than I was, and then we'd get involved in organizations. I was kind of the numbers person and that complemented things.
Speaker 2:You mentioned fairy godmothers and I think well, I'd like to elaborate a little bit more on that later but prior to that, one of the things that really showed her and I'll call it her organizational skills was the early 90s, during Desert Shield, desert Storm. The entire division from Fort Riley left, you know, and they left family behind and with lots of needs and all Well, angie and a individual by the name of Chris Heavey, who at the time was a mall manager, organized literally an army of volunteers to support those families and there was a committee for babysitting, for snow removal, for transportation, whatever, and it was so successful that after the troops returned at a Chamber of Commerce banquet, they were recognized. Senator Bob Dole got wind of that. There was an article that was put in the congressional record complimenting Manhattan for their support of Fort Riley and Chris and Angie by name. So that was just one of several things that she was.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely an amazing woman and a selfless woman. She was more than willing to reach out and help others whenever there was a need.
Speaker 2:And, like I say, she was definitely a people person.
Speaker 1:So let me ask you a question who has had the biggest impact on your life, do you think, as you've gone through the years, Well, I'll continue on the same train.
Speaker 2:I had seen your questions before and there was a number of people, but it was really Angie, because in the Air Force, I mean, she was so flexible in terms of her meeting people, getting people involved, seeing a need. She didn't do everything herself but she could twist arms and so, yeah, whether it was Air Force, whether it was here, her involvement at K-State, I mean the social club. I mean, when we first came here, something that my initial impression of Manhattan was the chamber talked about Manhattan being a three-legged stool the community, the university and Fort Riley. You know, and with our background, you know, we were pretty comfortable in all three areas.
Speaker 1:Well, she was definitely a dynamic and lovely woman and I had the pleasure of knowing her very well and I enjoyed that. Thank you. So how do you enjoy your personal time when you're not working or in retirement or anything else? Now, you've been retired for several years now, but what do you do in your personal time?
Speaker 2:Well.
Speaker 1:I try to follow you and play some golf, but I don't play and I haven't swung a club in a long time, but I'm really a sports enthusiast.
Speaker 2:I've had season football tickets since 81,. Go to the Lady Cat games go to baseball as well. This morning might be just kind of an indication of that too. One of the things that I was listening to that kind of set the tone for what we're doing right now was I was listening to uh, you and dave lewis, as he was streaming the latest podcast I think the number was 153, okay which you were reviewing the last 25 years and that kind of set the tone really for my thinking right now of just all the things that this marvelous organization has done.
Speaker 2:So I mean, you know, podcasts. Because of vision problems I don't read, but I listen to books and that keeps me out of trouble too.
Speaker 1:Well, it's always great to see you, and you and I have a special bond for sure. So when you got involved in the charitable efforts, what was the first charity that you and Angie kind of connected with, and why? Yeah?
Speaker 2:Well, I would even go back prior to coming to Manhattan even you know, and when I think of charities I also think of our church, you know, and my growing up as a teenager. My folks at the time we were Presbyterians but going to church had an allowance and a certain part of that allowance needed to go to the church. It wasn't until I graduated college, you know, that I could start making pledges, but then when we came here and I thought about this a lot, the bread basket would probably be one of the first things we got to know a Tina, hanna, a Tina and Jerry.
Speaker 2:We had a gourmet dinner club Right and they were in that and Tina managed to convince me that she needed some drivers, so I drove for them and Shepherd's Crossing I think you know C Clyde Jones and, of course, in Rotary. He always let us know we needed to sponsor that Pawnee Mental Health and all that, but the bread basket probably was the first one that I really got involved in Well, that's very interesting.
Speaker 1:You know as people come through town in different stages, you know what charities kind of pop it up and make it a difference in time. So it's always interesting to know. You know what individuals get involved with. So thank you for sharing that. What charitable decision that you've made probably had the biggest impact on your life? Is there one particular charity or gift that you've made or volunteer effort that had an impact?
Speaker 2:Well, of course it started with those initial ones, but I think it was 11 years ago that came up with this idea of Grow Green. I think maybe it wasn't an original idea. We may have borrowed the idea from a couple of nearby communities, but the fact that you could consolidate things. And now I look at of course in the mail, like everybody getting various nonprofits that are saying, okay, we'd like your support, but with 90-some I mean it's difficult these days to narrow that down that grow green really Once I had an opportunity in fact I would when I first heard about that, it just resonated with me.
Speaker 1:And you were on the board at that time, if I recall. I think so yes, yeah, that was a great start in 2013. And I think we had 24, 26 organizations that started that year and it's been growing ever since.
Speaker 2:Well, and as I look back and whether this is true or not, but somebody said that the phone calls that came in were from nonprofits. That said how can we get involved?
Speaker 1:Yeah, is there matching money here now? That's right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 20-some to 90-some. I mean that's amazing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a great testament to Phil Howell, obviously and the Howell Family Foundation.
Speaker 2:Well missing, well missing.
Speaker 1:How did you first get involved with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation? What was that point? Probably as a trustee before board member, but when was that?
Speaker 2:Well, at the time I was working at Commerce Bank, I was head of the brokerage department and of course, I personally knew Mark and the two gems and they invited in a series of meetings, you know, people like myself and Steve Harrison and other people in the brokerage community that, hey, we'd like to get you involved. We needed somebody on an investment committee and this other. So it was that initially was the spark that really got me involved. We needed somebody on an investment committee and this other. So it was that initially was the spark that really got me involved.
Speaker 1:So I don't know if you remember or not, but there was a certain Rotary meeting that you and I are both avid Rotarians and there was a certain Rotary meeting that you had a conversation with me. Do you remember how that conversation went?
Speaker 2:I remember it very well, at the time I was the treasurer. I think you're maybe the fifth director, but the fourth director at the time was Liz Workman. Liz and I had a very close relationship. Of course the gyms and all were still involved, but she looked for kind of continuity of the organization. And then when I found out that she and her were still involved, but she looked for you know kind of continuity of the organization.
Speaker 2:And then when I found out that she and her husband Bob were leaving and going to Wichita and I think that's what you're referring to.
Speaker 1:I have to say it is hey.
Speaker 2:Vern.
Speaker 1:There may be an opportunity here you are, the direct reason, catalyst, I guess, for me being at the Community Foundation from that meeting alone.
Speaker 2:That's so typical of this community that that, yeah, you don't read about those things in the Mercury or hear it on K-Man radio. It's, it's. It's the people contacting on. Of course I could, I could go on that as a retiree now, the, and living at Meadowlark and some wonderful people but it's people that make organizations go, and community foundations are no different.
Speaker 1:Well, I'll forever be grateful for you sharing that with me that day, and it's provided lots of memories for me for sure.
Speaker 2:I'm glad you don't blame me for setting you down the wrong street or something Not at all.
Speaker 1:What were your thoughts when you found out that you were setting you down the wrong street? Or something Not at all. What were your thoughts when you found out that you were being honored with the Cornerstone Award?
Speaker 2:Humbled would be the first word.
Speaker 1:Honored.
Speaker 2:Listening to you all, your Monday program. I mean, I knew the 25th was going to be a special time and I knew you were going to be honoring some people, but then, when I found out who the individuals I think there were maybe 22 individuals and three couples. It included Angie and I.
Speaker 2:But, the fact that it just wasn't me, that Angie and, in this case, the Fairy Godmothers, In fact, the thing that I would mention about Fairy Godmothers and women helping women, I mean of all the nonprofits with the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, I think Fairy Godmothers typifies the mission, the need. I mean there was a need for primarily single women, their kids, whether it was car repairs, dental work. You know and she was on that grants committee and would share with me some of the just heartbreaking stories that came down and the fact that the city of Manhattan or the Raleigh County and their school district I mean tax dollars do certain things in a community but it's organizations, nonprofits, like Very Godmothers, that make Manhattan what it is.
Speaker 1:the quality of life. Well, and Angie was on that grants committee and making those decisions for so many years, so she had a great thought process about where the needs were in Manhattan for sure.
Speaker 2:One of the comments. You know the night of the CFAs and I was hoping my son and his wife could come in from North Carolina but that didn't happen. But I was honored with my daughter from Kansas City. A granddaughter came up from Oklahoma and that was a wonderful, wonderful night. I mean, you know, I kind of remember many years ago, when this individual that I'm looking at came up with the idea of the CFA Right. So many people say I just didn't know that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Every year after the event when people hear things and find out things and they find just a personal pride point of the evening itself for what we do, and so it's been very gratifying.
Speaker 2:It's wonderful.
Speaker 1:So what would you share with somebody else who's considering making a charitable gift? Any advice that you would give them from your historic perspective and your knowledge of the Community Foundation?
Speaker 2:I'll just the ones that I can think in before, but I, you know, to really realize the scope, I thought if he can come, at night and be a guest at that dinner. That just to hear the stories that are told and all that I mean. Stories are the key.
Speaker 1:And there's no two people better in this community than yourself and Dave Lewis, for starters. Well, you're very kind, that's for sure, so we appreciate that. So if you were going to give some advice to your younger 30-year-old self, as well as the 30-year-olds, that are our listeners too.
Speaker 2:Well, and of course, you know, starting out you may not have the financial means to make contributions, no matter how small or how large, are important to get started. But you know we talk about time, talent and all you know and I can think of my involvement in church and various committees that, yes, I had the time that I could devote to it and a certain amount of expertise, and it just wasn't financial. I mean, I drove the bus, for I drove for the bread basket to go to East Side West Side Market to pick up produce. I drove for a church on Sunday morning to pick up shut-ins. I mean, you know, we all have certain talents and so that you need to get started and that's I think that's so important and set an example. I mean role models and a word I haven't used up to this point.
Speaker 1:And again, this is a church, or the preacher talking to the choir?
Speaker 2:but leadership I mean the organizations that I've been involved in had strong leadership and I think the Greater Manhattan. Community Foundation. You've earned capital letters thanks to all that you've done.
Speaker 1:Well, it's a team sport. There's a whole lot of people involved in this, and we appreciate all the support that the community and our trustees and board members give us for sure.
Speaker 2:Well, and I can remember 10, 11 years ago, when you first came on board, you know, the team was pretty small. You could count the number of people on one hand I think you're approaching 20-something either part-timers or full-timers.
Speaker 1:We're getting there. Just hired another one yesterday or last Friday, I guess, so we're getting there.
Speaker 2:But the teamwork, the leadership vision it all goes together.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's a service, is a big thing for us, and so we want to make sure that we have the right number of personnel to provide the services that we can for our account holders, and, as they continue to grow, we need to increase our staff to help that. So, yeah, we need to increase our staff to help that. So, yeah, well, we've talked a lot about the 25 years coming to this point and, obviously, the Cornerstone Award that you've received. What would you think the next 25 years? Have you given some thought to that, or what could you share? What do you think the Community Foundation ought to get involved with?
Speaker 2:Well, for starters, my crystal ball was kind of cloudy, but the latest project that you're all involved in this innovation Child Care Accelerator Program.
Speaker 2:Yes, because I can remember back when Lyle Butler was head of the chamber, there was a committee that was informed it was trying to work, that it's always been one of the top priority, a top need. So I mean I just encourage you know it's complex, it's difficult, but the community foundation now has you know you go from year one when a $200 check was written to over $350 million. I mean you're a factor in the community, you can take on those large, large projects. So I mean I really commend you on that. Site. Agency needs to come in and do an in-depth look at the 25 years and not just from the people in the um and the projects. I mean that's important.
Speaker 2:In fact, you know, uh, several years ago, when covet hit, right you didn't have a program that you could pull off the shelf and say, hey, this is what we're going to do?
Speaker 2:I mean you got, you know. You know again, it was a team project. I mean, that's just an example of what can do. But to get and when I say an outside agency, I can think of no better organization in this community but the history department at K State. I mean they know how to do research. The Philanthropy Today podcast what 150 of them. I mean what a rich source of the people. But then to go to an organization like the Breadbasket or Pony Mental Health here, you know again, besides child care, mental health is a big issue. We've got.
Speaker 2:Robin Cole now passing the baton to go in depth to what those? Because there's so. For many, many years the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation was not well known and a lot of these nonprofits are not unknown. It's operating underneath the radar, I guess is probably the analogy, and I think whether it would be now or five years from now to explore that, because that ties in with an earlier comment I made that the city, the tax dollars the city, the county, the school district.
Speaker 2:They have their mission and all that. But if it wasn't for 90-some nonprofits and the community foundation, we wouldn't have the quality of life that we have now.
Speaker 1:Well, I can't think of a better way to close it than a statement like that Tom, you've been, you've done a great job today. It's been wonderful to have a conversation with you about philanthropy and just to get to know you a little bit better. Thank you for joining us today where we look inside the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. You can always learn more about GMCF at our website, mcfksorg. We invite you to subscribe to Philanthropy Today, wherever you get your podcast. I am Vern Hendricks and have enjoyed hosting our Cornerstone Award Series in the Ad Astra Cast Studios here in downtown Manhattan, kansas.