Sunday, December 7, 2008
♥ Secret Santa: True Meaning of Christmas
As usual I was just reading some feautures in Yahoo and something really interesting caught my eye. There's an article about a "Secret Santa" roaming around a state and giving out 100 dollar bills to those people who are in need for only one condition, and that is "to do something nice for someone"
The first thing that came up to my head is the movie "Pay it forward" a movie where a boy starts changing the world by doing something good to others who are in need without asking anything in return. It all started when his teacher gave him a project on "HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD" and the boy took it too seriously that he construct an idea of a chain reaction by doing a simple act of changing the world.
I never thought that it could happen in real life, as if its only for movies and fairytales. Surely, its a very inspirational story but it never crossed my mind that someday someone will say "Just Pay it forward", until now. :)
Secret Santa Story :
At a suburban Goodwill store on Friday, Theresa Settles selected a large, black comforter to warm her family until she can raise the money to turn the gas heat back on. A petite woman approached, her face obscured by dark sunglasses and a wrapped winter scarf, and handed Settles two $100 bills stamped with the words "secret Santa." "The only condition," she said, "is that you do something nice for someone. Pass it on."
"I will," Settles said, the only words she could get out of her mouth.
The secret Santa was a protege of Kansas City's undercover gift giver, Larry Stewart, who died of cancer nearly two years ago. Stewart roamed city streets each December doling out $100 bills to anyone who looked like they might need a lift.
Before his death in January 2007, Stewart told a friend how much he would miss his 26 years of anonymous streetside giving, during which he gave away about $1.3 million. Stewart, from the city suburb of Lee's Summit, made millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service.
The friend promised Stewart he would be a secret Santa the next year. "He squeezed my hand and that was it," said the Kansas City Santa, who would say only that he was an area businessman and investor. "I honored a promise."
Two secret Santas, one from the Kansas City area and the other from the St. Louis area, descended on thrift stores, a health clinic, convenience store and small auto repair shop to dole out $20,000 in $100 bills, hugs and words of encouragement to unsuspecting souls in need.
In this economy, they weren't hard to find.
Cynthia Brown, 40, was laid off three weeks ago from her food service job. Santa found her at the St. Louis County health clinic and gave her $100, exactly what she had asked to borrow from her mother a night ago to buy food.
"I have three daughters, and I can't get unemployment yet. I was down in food," she said.
Leotta Burbank, 50, of West Frankfurt, Ill., was at a thrift store Friday to buy decorations for her sister-in-law's room at a St. Louis hospice, where she is dying of pancreatic cancer.
When Santa gave her money, Burbank collapsed into his arms and wouldn't stop hugging him.
"God provides," she said. "This is real emotional for me."
For the secret Santas, it's not about keeping Stewart's memory alive as much as the meaning behind his legacy.
"It's not about the man, it's not about the money, it's about the message," the Kansas City Santa said. "Anyone can be a secret Santa with a kind word, gesture, a helping hand."
He said the money is given without judgment, but on the condition that the receiver pass along a kindness to someone else. Stewart began his holiday tradition at a restaurant in December 1979, after he had just been fired. He gave a waitress $20 and told her to keep the change and was struck by her gratitude.
Stewart also gave money to community causes in Kansas City and his hometown of Bruce, Miss.
The secret Santas want to expand their operation to every state, but so far only nine givers operate in Charlotte, N.C., Phoenix, St. Louis and Kansas City. They plan to start giving in Detroit this holiday season.
The Story of Secret Santa . . . Larry Dean Stewart:
Larry Dean Stewart 1948 – 2007 was the creator and original Secret Santa. Through his personal example over a twenty year period, he demonstrated and defined the role and mission of Secret Santa. “Secret Santa's” random acts of kindness over the years had an impact on people throughout the world who either were beneficiaries or who read in media reports his random acts of kindness and giving; especially three months before his death in January 2007 when his personal identity was made public. The Society of Secret Santas builds upon the legacy of Larry Dean Stewart.
An unusual offer over the telephone caught Santa by surprise.
"Are you willing to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s show?" the caller from Chicago asked.
Like Santa, Oprah grew up poor in Mississippi, earned success and enjoyed giving back by helping others. Santa thought the world of Oprah.
Appear on her show? A lump formed in his throat. How could he be interviewed on national television without someone recognizing him? He feared that if his identity were revealed, he wouldn’t be able to spread Christmas cheer as Secret Santa anymore. It wouldn’t be safe, for one thing. Knowing that Santa carried lots of money, some people would be tempted to rob him. If his name got out, people would come to his home and his business demanding money. They might go after his wife or his children.
Besides, he didn’t give away money to gain recognition. He did it to fulfill a promise he’d made 24 years earlier, in 1971.
Was the thrill of meeting Oprah worth the risk of being revealed?
After pondering the situation, Santa decided a disguise might allow him to take part while still protecting his identity. He owned a fake white beard and mop of matching fake hair. They could hide much of his face.
***I guess I was wrong that these things only live in dreams, fairytales or movies. A magical and inspiring story that is trully amazing to believe.
A simple act of kindness is all it takes :)
Pass it forward!
***
Every Christmas, Secret Santa "sleigh rides" light up a community with love, joy and faith in mankind.
***
Secret Santa lives in the hearts of us all. It doesn't take money to be a Secret Santa -- a kind word, a friendly gesture, a good deed, a helping hand to those less fortunate.
***THE STORY OF THE SECRET SANTA IN YOUTUBE
The first thing that came up to my head is the movie "Pay it forward" a movie where a boy starts changing the world by doing something good to others who are in need without asking anything in return. It all started when his teacher gave him a project on "HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD" and the boy took it too seriously that he construct an idea of a chain reaction by doing a simple act of changing the world.
I never thought that it could happen in real life, as if its only for movies and fairytales. Surely, its a very inspirational story but it never crossed my mind that someday someone will say "Just Pay it forward", until now. :)
Secret Santa Story :
At a suburban Goodwill store on Friday, Theresa Settles selected a large, black comforter to warm her family until she can raise the money to turn the gas heat back on. A petite woman approached, her face obscured by dark sunglasses and a wrapped winter scarf, and handed Settles two $100 bills stamped with the words "secret Santa." "The only condition," she said, "is that you do something nice for someone. Pass it on."
"I will," Settles said, the only words she could get out of her mouth.
The secret Santa was a protege of Kansas City's undercover gift giver, Larry Stewart, who died of cancer nearly two years ago. Stewart roamed city streets each December doling out $100 bills to anyone who looked like they might need a lift.
Before his death in January 2007, Stewart told a friend how much he would miss his 26 years of anonymous streetside giving, during which he gave away about $1.3 million. Stewart, from the city suburb of Lee's Summit, made millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service.
The friend promised Stewart he would be a secret Santa the next year. "He squeezed my hand and that was it," said the Kansas City Santa, who would say only that he was an area businessman and investor. "I honored a promise."
Two secret Santas, one from the Kansas City area and the other from the St. Louis area, descended on thrift stores, a health clinic, convenience store and small auto repair shop to dole out $20,000 in $100 bills, hugs and words of encouragement to unsuspecting souls in need.
In this economy, they weren't hard to find.
Cynthia Brown, 40, was laid off three weeks ago from her food service job. Santa found her at the St. Louis County health clinic and gave her $100, exactly what she had asked to borrow from her mother a night ago to buy food.
"I have three daughters, and I can't get unemployment yet. I was down in food," she said.
Leotta Burbank, 50, of West Frankfurt, Ill., was at a thrift store Friday to buy decorations for her sister-in-law's room at a St. Louis hospice, where she is dying of pancreatic cancer.
When Santa gave her money, Burbank collapsed into his arms and wouldn't stop hugging him.
"God provides," she said. "This is real emotional for me."
For the secret Santas, it's not about keeping Stewart's memory alive as much as the meaning behind his legacy.
"It's not about the man, it's not about the money, it's about the message," the Kansas City Santa said. "Anyone can be a secret Santa with a kind word, gesture, a helping hand."
He said the money is given without judgment, but on the condition that the receiver pass along a kindness to someone else. Stewart began his holiday tradition at a restaurant in December 1979, after he had just been fired. He gave a waitress $20 and told her to keep the change and was struck by her gratitude.
Stewart also gave money to community causes in Kansas City and his hometown of Bruce, Miss.
The secret Santas want to expand their operation to every state, but so far only nine givers operate in Charlotte, N.C., Phoenix, St. Louis and Kansas City. They plan to start giving in Detroit this holiday season.
The Story of Secret Santa . . . Larry Dean Stewart:
Larry Dean Stewart 1948 – 2007 was the creator and original Secret Santa. Through his personal example over a twenty year period, he demonstrated and defined the role and mission of Secret Santa. “Secret Santa's” random acts of kindness over the years had an impact on people throughout the world who either were beneficiaries or who read in media reports his random acts of kindness and giving; especially three months before his death in January 2007 when his personal identity was made public. The Society of Secret Santas builds upon the legacy of Larry Dean Stewart.
An unusual offer over the telephone caught Santa by surprise.
"Are you willing to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s show?" the caller from Chicago asked.
Like Santa, Oprah grew up poor in Mississippi, earned success and enjoyed giving back by helping others. Santa thought the world of Oprah.
Appear on her show? A lump formed in his throat. How could he be interviewed on national television without someone recognizing him? He feared that if his identity were revealed, he wouldn’t be able to spread Christmas cheer as Secret Santa anymore. It wouldn’t be safe, for one thing. Knowing that Santa carried lots of money, some people would be tempted to rob him. If his name got out, people would come to his home and his business demanding money. They might go after his wife or his children.
Besides, he didn’t give away money to gain recognition. He did it to fulfill a promise he’d made 24 years earlier, in 1971.
Was the thrill of meeting Oprah worth the risk of being revealed?
After pondering the situation, Santa decided a disguise might allow him to take part while still protecting his identity. He owned a fake white beard and mop of matching fake hair. They could hide much of his face.
***I guess I was wrong that these things only live in dreams, fairytales or movies. A magical and inspiring story that is trully amazing to believe.
A simple act of kindness is all it takes :)
Pass it forward!
***
Every Christmas, Secret Santa "sleigh rides" light up a community with love, joy and faith in mankind.
***
Secret Santa lives in the hearts of us all. It doesn't take money to be a Secret Santa -- a kind word, a friendly gesture, a good deed, a helping hand to those less fortunate.
***THE STORY OF THE SECRET SANTA IN YOUTUBE
9:34 AM
