Donor Spotlight: Tom Shellenberg & Christine Hillegass

In a quiet office with walls covered densely with fine Western art, Tom Shellenberg and his wife Christine Hillegass quietly share their life and giving philosophy. On the other side of the wall, employees and customers bustle through the aisles of Livingston’s Ace Hardware, which Tom has co-owned for twenty years.  

Tom grew up in Livingston when it was still a railroad town. He worked in his father’s camera shop, which supplied film to all of Yellowstone National Park. A Park High graduate, he went to college in Butte before serving in the Army and eventually earning a BS in Business Administration from the University of Montana. He became a licensed CPA in 1977 and has mostly worked for himself ever since.  

Tom and Chris inside Livingston’s Ace Hardware.

During a stint in Colorado, Tom received a letter from his former Livingston church that asked if they should remove him from their records. Without a church in Colorado, Tom wanted to stay connected, so he wrote them back and included a check for $1000. That gift was just the beginning. When his bank balance got low, Tom pulled out his checkbook, sent gifts to his favorite charities, and just stopped worrying about money. Eventually, with his client-based income, he would be able to pay his bills.  

Tom encourages his accounting clients to follow his lead. When a client reduces or eliminates their charitable giving during a downturn, he says:  

“That’s the last expense you cut, not the first. Too many people live a life of scarcity. Lots of them have very scarce finances and they absolutely must act like it because they have nothing. But people who have something can't shake that scarcity thing…but that's not how you should run your life. It's a half full half empty mentality, and half full is a pretty good drink of water if you're thirsty. It's mostly just an attitude.” 

Chris came to philanthropy through Tom. Having worked as a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Livingston for over 20 years, she knows the critical needs of Park County, the erosion of services, and that the toughest issues require a multi-pronged approach. Chris recalls, “I was thrilled when PCCF was formed. It was a wonderful idea to come together to support all of the nonprofits. Solutions to our greatest challenges require the generosity of an entire community.” 

Along with co-owners Matt and Kelly Dowdell, Tom employs 120 people across five Ace Hardware stores in Montana. Business successes have allowed him to further support the causes that matter most to him, namely children and food insecurity. Livingston’s Ace Hardware also contributes to the local community, providing free tools, hardware, and other items for programs and projects throughout Park County.  

Known for their generosity throughout the community, Tom and Chris have truly lived “For the Love of Park County.”