With a never ending flurry of headlines recounting sordid tales of the wealthy, out-of-touch elite, it’s refreshing to see a story of personal riches truly being used to benefit others.
Odds are you haven’t heard of Geoffrey Holt. Holt lived a modest, frugal life, working as a groundskeeper to a mobile home park, where he also resided, in the tiny town of Hinsdale, New Hampshire.
Holt lived so frugally that he was known to wear threadbare clothes, ride his lawnmower about town in lieu of a car, and be more than content to spend his time either working or tinkering with his model automobile collection.
No one ever suspected this unassuming man was secretly a millionaire.
Behind the scenes, Holt had been a savvy investor. And when he died on June 6, 2023, he left behind $3.8 million in the bank—with every penny to go toward bettering the town, so long as the money was used for education, health, recreation or culture.
According to USA Today and the Washington Post, the town is most immediately considering purchasing an electronic ballot machine to honor their humble benefactor, who always voted in elections, as well as fixing the town clock and giving grants to replace uniforms. But with a population of only 4,200 people, the possibilities are endless.
Holt might have not craved any time in the spotlight, but it’s important that his good deeds are recognized. Not only to give credit where credit is due, but to instill a bit of hope that wealth can indeed lead to more generosity in the world.
Watch the full story, shared by CTV news, below: