Secret Santa Unveiled

One thing that bothers me about the holidays is that our politicians o mind their own business instead of causing all sorts of trouble that us bloggers love to attack them for. So as a result, us bloggers have a temporary dearth of snarky comments to share with you. For some bloggers, this is a crisis, but not so for me, amigos bonitos. As you know, I am more versatile than that. If the last story did not prove my versatility, then this story certainly will.

After being fired -- twice -- the day before Christmas, a man who came to be known as the Secret Santa was nursing his own wounds by giving out cash to other people who appeared they could use it. For 26 years, a Secret Santa has prowled the streets of Kansas City, Missouri every December, handing out wads of cash. Originally, he started by passing out $5 and $10 bills, but later, as his fortune increased, he gave people one or more $100 bills. So far, he's given out approximately $1.3 million.

Who is this secret santa?

Weak from chemotherapy and armed with a desire to pass on his belief in random kindness, Secret Santa has decided it's time to reveal his identity.

Secret Santa is Larry Stewart, a 58-year-old businessman from the Kansas City suburb of Lee's Summit, Mo., who made his millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service.

Over the years, Stewart's giving as Secret Santa grew. He started a Web site. He allowed the news media to tag along, mostly because he wanted to hear about the people who received the money. Reporters had to agree to guard his identity and not name his company, which he still does not want revealed.

Now, his mission is bigger than handing out $100 bills. Stewart wants to speak to community groups about his devotion to kindness and to inspire others to donate their time and money.

"That's what we're here for," Stewart says, "to help other people out."

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