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'Secret Santa' Gives $100 Bills to Sandy-Hit Residents

Anonymously hands out cash in NJ, NY

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 30, 2012 10:57 AM CST

(AP) – A wealthy Missouri man posing as "Secret Santa" stunned New Yorkers, handing $100 bills to many in Staten Island who had lost everything to Superstorm Sandy. The anonymous Kansas City businessman is giving away $100,000 this holiday season, and he spent yesterday in New Jersey and New York giving away thousands. But "the money is not the point at all," he said as he walked up to surprised Staten Island residents and thrust crisp bills into their hands. "It's about the random acts of kindness. I'm just setting an example."

A police motorcade with sirens took him across the borough, passing a church ripped from its foundations and homes surrounded by debris. Uniformed police officers from New York and New Jersey, plus FBI agents and former agents, kept close watch over the cash handouts. Some have become supporters, wearing red caps marked with the word "elf" and assisting "Santa" to choose locations where people are most in need. He himself wears an "elf" cap and a red top, plus blue jeans. Click for more of the heartwarming story.

A wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo., known as Secret Santa, distributes $100 dollar bills to needy people at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.
A wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo., known as Secret Santa, distributes $100 dollar bills to needy people at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.   (Rich Schultz)
People smile as they find out that Secret Santa will be handing them $100 dollar bills at St. Joseph's Social Service Center and other locations in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.
People smile as they find out that Secret Santa will be handing them $100 dollar bills at St. Joseph's Social Service Center and other locations in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.   (Rich Schultz)
Charlotte Muhammad holds up two $100 dollar bills she got from Secret Santa, at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.
Charlotte Muhammad holds up two $100 dollar bills she got from Secret Santa, at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.   (Rich Schultz)
A wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo., known as Secret Santa, distributes $100 dollar bills to needy people at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.
A wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo., known as Secret Santa, distributes $100 dollar bills to needy people at St. Joseph's Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.   (Rich Schultz)
Carol Hefty hugs Secret Santa after he gave her a $100 dollar bill in the boro of Staten Island, New York, NY, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.
Carol Hefty hugs Secret Santa after he gave her a $100 dollar bill in the boro of Staten Island, New York, NY, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012.   (Rich Schultz)
Janice Kennedy hugs Secret Santa after getting a $100 dollar bill from the wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo. in the boro of Staten Island, New York, NY, Nov. 29, 2012.
Janice Kennedy hugs Secret Santa after getting a $100 dollar bill from the wealthy philanthropist from Kansas City, Mo. in the boro of Staten Island, New York, NY, Nov. 29, 2012.   (Rich Schultz)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
stlman1
Nov 30, 2012 3:55 PM CST
Hmunster it only took the next guy in line to say something out of charactor for this story. Some background...Larry Stewart was from Lee's Summit, Mo., a burb of KC. He made his fortune working with Sprint...and yes every year he would go to the most unusual places in and around KC and give crisp hundreds to unsupecting folks. He did this for years and not until his dealth did they divulge his identity. Same thing with the cops...only he didn't need a motorcade, he was quiet that way and never wanted anyone to know about his grass roots philanthropy. Needles to say his funeral was a big deal.  Merry Christmas too all.
arizonachris
Nov 30, 2012 11:35 AM CST
Yeah, stories like this give me faith that mankind actually still has good in it, not just political crap or greed. Merry Christmas to all! 
LenJunior
Nov 30, 2012 11:23 AM CST
GOD BLESS HIM. Wish that there were more people like him.

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 

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