September 11, 2026
First Community Bank is proud to announce its partnership with Paws for Purpose and Snowy Pines White Labs to help bring specially trained therapy dogs into schools across Arkansas. Through the Arkansas Therapy Dogs in Education program, the partnership is designed to support student well-being, encourage learning and provide schools with an additional resource for creating positive, supportive environments for students.
First Community Bank is serving as a community partner for the initiative, helping identify schools that could benefit from a therapy dog, connecting program representatives with school administrators and supporting schools throughout the placement process. The goal is to continue expanding the program so more students and educators across Arkansas can experience the benefits of having a trained therapy dog on campus.
During the 2026-27 school year, First Community Bank has already helped place seven therapy dogs in area school districts, connecting students, educators and staff with dogs trained to provide comfort, companionship and support throughout the school day.
“This partnership is a wonderful example of what it means to put community first,” said Dale Cole, chairman and chief executive officer of First Community Bank. “The impact these dogs can have goes far beyond the classroom. They can help a child feel more comfortable reading aloud, provide a calming presence during a difficult day or simply offer the kind of unconditional connection that can make a student feel safe and supported. We are incredibly proud to help bring that resource to schools and students in the communities we serve.”
The program places therapy dogs with schools and provides training and resources to help school staff successfully integrate the dogs into their educational environment. Therapy dogs can work alongside counselors, special education teachers, classroom teachers and other school personnel to support a variety of student needs.
Gary Sevier, chief operating officer at Paws for Purpose commented about the partnership saying, "At the end of the day, this is about a student who walks into school carrying something heavy and finds a companion waiting who asks nothing of them. Our job is preparing dogs worthy of that moment, and First Community Bank's partnership means more of those moments happening in more schools across Arkansas. That is the whole mission: serving students, supporting the educators who show up for them every day, and doing it one school community at a time."
Interactions with therapy animals can help reduce stress and anxiety while promoting feelings of connection and well-being. Therapy dogs can also be particularly valuable in school reading programs, where students who may feel anxious or self-conscious reading in front of others are able to practice in a pressure-free setting with a nonjudgmental companion. Paws for Purpose reports research showing students participating in canine reading programs can experience improvements in reading fluency, along with increased confidence and enthusiasm for reading.
“This is the kind of partnership where you can see the difference being made at the individual level,” Cole added. “Seven dogs have already found their places in schools this year, but that also means seven school communities now have a new resource dedicated to their students. We are excited to see the program continue to grow.”
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