Tulsa World: Spirit of Christmas

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Spirit of Christmas
'New Secret Santa' gives away $100 bills in Tulsa

A businessman known as "Elf 32A" or "Secret Santa" gives $100 to the mothers of Chamariah Chadwick (center), 3, and Aniah Heath at the Value Thrift Store at 11th Street and Memorial Drive on Wednesday. ADAM WISNESKI / Tulsa World

By MICHAEL OVERALL World Staff Writer
Published: 11/19/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 11/19/2009 6:06 AM

A white van stops at the curb with two motorcycle cops close behind and a patrol car parked across the street.

Within seconds, TV cameras are rushing down the block toward Amy Swift, shining lights in her bewildered eyes and poking microphones toward her gaping mouth.

Waiting for a bus Wednesday morning near Third Street and Lewis Avenue, Swift suddenly finds herself holding a crisp $100 bill. And the man who gave it to her disappears as quickly as he came, taking the police escort with him.

Swift plans to use the money to fill some prescriptions.

"I couldn't afford antibiotics, but now I can," she says, wiping away tears. "But I don't get it. Who was that? What's going on?"

The New Secret Santa has come to Tulsa.

'Must've dropped this'

In 1971, a homeless man named Larry Stewart ordered a big breakfast at the Dixie Diner in Houston, Miss.

When it came time to pay, he pretended to have forgotten his wallet. But a kind stranger pretended to pick up a $20 bill from beneath Stewart's chair.

"Here, you must've dropped this."

Stewart promised to repay the favor someday by doing a good deed for someone else. And he remembered that promise eight years later when he ordered lunch from a drive-in and noticed the car-hop shivering in the Christmastime weather.

She cried when Stewart told her to keep the change from a $20 bill. And Stewart got such a thrill from it that he drove to a bank and withdrew more cash to give away.

After that, he made it a yearly Christmas tradition to hand out money to random people on the streets of Kansas City, Mo. But $20 bills turned into $100 bills after he struck it rich.

Dubbed the "Secret Santa" by the Kansas City press, Stewart never allowed his name to be published until shortly before he died in 2007. By then, he had given away more than $1.3 million.

'Would this help?'

Realizing she can't afford everything in the shopping basket, Ellen Stanley is putting dresses back on the rack Monday at a thrift store near 21st Street and Sheridan Road.

Then she turns around to see a gray-haired man wearing a red pullover and a matching red beret.

"Would this help you any?" he says as he offers a $100 bill.

"Would this help you even more?" he takes another bill out of his pocket.

Crying, Stanley gives Santa a big hug around the neck. And as he walks away, she begins to fill her cart with clothes for her daughters — some that will fit right away, and some a size larger for later on.

"I have the cash now," she explains. "I don't know when I'll have it again."

'That's really something'

Known as Elf 32A before the original Santa died, the New Secret Santa won't say much about himself, insisting that his face not be photographed.

"I'm a Kansas City businessman. I was a friend of Larry Stewart. And that's about all you need to know."

Carrying as much as $25,000 in cash, he travels with a police escort and several of his own "elves," including a retired FBI agent.

A public relations firm donates time, drumming up publicity not for Santa himself, but for the idea.

"If I give a hundred dollars to people, and they're inspired to go do good deeds themselves, that's great," he says.

"But if a thousand people hear about this and are inspired to do just one good deed each, well, that's really something."

Before he died, Stewart began recruiting local "elves" to carry on the tradition across the country, and the new Santa has recruited even more helpers. Every year now, anonymous millionaires hit the streets in Phoenix; Detroit; St. Louis; Charlotte, N.C.; and other places.

By this time next year, the new Santa hopes to add Tulsa to that list, and he apparently met with a potential candidate before leaving town.

"Believe me," he says, "you get more out of this than the people do; it gives you such a great feeling. It's selfish, in a way."

Michael Overall 581-8383
michael.overall@tulsaworld.com By MICHAEL OVERALL World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "'New Secret Santa' giving away $100 bills in Tulsa," which was published on 11/18/2009.

	Report Comment Daven, Tulsa (11/18/2009 12:46:07 PM) Awesome! Glad someone carried on this torch.
	Report Comment PR, (11/18/2009 12:50:32 PM) That is great. Thank you sir.
	Report Comment Hawktalk, (11/18/2009 12:56:38 PM) TK ? is that you under that fake beard ?
	Report Comment Sooner transplant, Marion (11/18/2009 1:00:27 PM) I wish he was near where I lived. I am unemployed and cannot qualify for benefits. Some wonderful society we live in....huh?
	Report Comment dork74, Broken Arrow (11/18/2009 1:08:46 PM) That's awesome, I remember seeing a story about the original Secret Santa a few years ago. I just hope this guy doesn't get robbed...
	Report Comment shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (11/18/2009 1:31:18 PM) Welcome to Tulsa, Santa!
	Report Comment fwjen, Sand Springs (11/18/2009 1:44:35 PM) How fantastic! My brother and SIL gave away $50 bills with their church several years ago in Greenville, TX. They were allowed to give to whomever they believed had a need. My bro and SIL said there's no way to describe how amazing it is to help folks in this way. Thanks to this secret Santa and to others who are able to follow his example.
	Report Comment Cooldaddy, Broken Arrow (11/18/2009 2:01:24 PM) I could sure use a crisp $100 right about now.
	Report Comment Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/18/2009 2:01:32 PM) What a great gesture of generousity....... ......The Lord was smiling while watching.
	Report Comment redbeard, Stillwater (11/18/2009 2:05:39 PM) What a generous guy.I'll bet it feels great to give that money to someone in need.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/18/2009 2:07:27 PM) Great guy to help those who need a little help.
	Report Comment polyana40, (11/18/2009 2:17:18 PM) You too can get that great feeling by giving of yourself. If you don't have money to give away or donate to worthy causes, you can give of yourself. Donate blood or platelets at the Red Cross, volunteer your time to one of the many local organizations that can use volunteers. Become a mentor at one of the high risk schools in town. Our world would be a better place if each one of us would make the decision to be the change we want to see in the world.
	Report Comment r0rschach, (11/18/2009 2:21:27 PM) ok, so where do poor people hang out? I want some green?
	Report Comment Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/18/2009 2:21:28 PM) Great thought, polyana40....... .....Perfect time of the year for it, also.
	Report Comment forkandknife, Tulsa (11/18/2009 3:04:37 PM) That is amazing.
	Report Comment Faith, (11/18/2009 3:41:41 PM) The is wonderful glad to hear he is helping the less fortunate.
	Report Comment Tulsaace, (11/18/2009 3:44:20 PM) I love Gracious people! It makes for a bright holiday for those in need as well just opens the sprits :-)
	Report Comment oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/18/2009 3:46:28 PM) Dont go near North Tulsa you will be robbed.
	Report Comment Val1205, Sapulpa (11/18/2009 3:46:39 PM) Too bad he didnt find his way to my school, our teachers would love an extra $100 bucks just in time for Christmas!
	Report Comment junkman, Tulsa (11/18/2009 3:56:33 PM) What a great man....need more like him
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/18/2009 4:01:26 PM) Makes me want to put on some Christmas music! What were those stations everybody was whining about the other day - because it was too early to hear Christmas music? The Christmas spirit a la some green bills changes everything. Thank you Santa!
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/18/2009 4:07:08 PM) Why not go to Pine and Peoria and start giving some Christmas cheer?
	Report Comment What the ?, Tulsa (11/18/2009 4:18:13 PM) wwaahh!
	Report Comment Wicked, Cleveland (11/18/2009 4:22:11 PM) Kudos to this gentleman. It is so nice to hear something good in the news!
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/18/2009 4:33:10 PM) God will surely bless you Santa.

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