Kansas City's Secret Santa At It Again

CBS Evening News: In Tough Times, The Mysterious Money Man Isn't Cutting Back

(CBS)  In Christmases past, an anonymous Kansas City businessman known only as Secret Santa used to go up to people and just hand them $100 bills, CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports.

This year, he's still handing out money, but due to the economy, he says he just can't give out what he used to.

Instead, he's giving out more! One woman who got his mysterious gift counted it out: $450.

"Well, please don't make any misunderstanding - I'm a businessman and investor and I've taken a big hit just like everybody else has," Secret Santa told Hartman.

In fact, Santa's portfolio is down 44 percent. And yet he says: "This isn't the year to step back. Given the economy, this year is actually the year to step up."

By the time Christmas rolls around, Secret Santa will have given out close to $100,000, surprising more people in more places than ever before.

Starting with these Grants - Ulysses S. Grants. At DeLaSalle High School, a school for at-risk kids - all 200 got a $50 bill.

A waitress at lunch got $100, and said: "I guess there really is a Santa Claus!" So did everyone else who worked with her.

Even a random woman at a red light got at $100 bill.

And yet, this year especially, there is a method to his mad money.

"In our country we have a lot of people who make $8 to $10 an hour and they live in a $12-to-$14 an hour world," Santa said. "And so this year we are trying to concentrate on the working poor."

People like Teresa Miller - he found her working at a laundromat. Teresa needed $400 to pay her property tax.

Questa Corneele dropped her husband off at the buss station.

"Back to Oklahoma," Questa said.

Hartman asked her if that's where her husband works.

"That's where we used to live and he has to go back there so he can work and me and the kids can have a Christmas," Questa said.

One of Santa's elves gave Questa $200.

Santa and his helpers say people are always grateful. But this year, the reactions when some people see the money - it's almost like surrender. Grown men wail and burst into tears.

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Watch the difference: Secret Santa in 2007 | Read

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What a sobering economic indicator. And with so many like them out there, now, more than ever, we need more like him.

Fortunately, Secret Santa is cloning himself - recruiting other well-to-do businesspeople to be Secret Santas in their towns.

So far he's found leaders in Detroit, Charlotte, St. Louis, Phoenix and San Diego.

[barbaram99]

Maybe what we need to do is send a message that the greed needs to stop. I don''t need the latest this/that. I am appalled the fighting over an item they see in the store. What I want for Christmas is not what I might get on that day. I don''t care. I am sorry but I don''t as it has become a gimme this/that. It is not my birthday. It is Jesus'' birthday.

[barbaram99]

I am writing this on an old notebook computer. The meaning of Christmas is loxt it seens. There were Christmases I got nothing. I was a good girl too. But my foster parents for what ever reason did not give gifts. I learnt a lesson that it is not the getting that is important. Star ye have yer gift..yer kin with ye. Ye can sit down as a family on Christmas and thank the Lord for each other . I am poor dear.

[star6700]

Where is that secret santa it would of been wonderful if he could of came to our home this year.I have 16,18,newborn grandchild.due to job layoffs for the first time ever their want be xmas this year.The spirt of xmas went out the door when my boyfriend lost his job last week do to the company lay off''s.I''m on unemployment like other people.If the secret santa decides to come to Cromwell ky to look us up.For the rest of the world who is getting to celebrate with their children.God bless and merry xmas to yu all.joann Hopkins

[barbaram99]

I was on the computer and had the news on due to the weather. It is what Chrismas is. Too offen people ask *what am I going to get * when it is giving. My friend asked me what I want. I don''t know I told him.
I have my computer. I think greed has ruined what Christmas is .

[star6700]

where is that secret santa?I wish he were here in my town in cromwell ky.The spirt of xmas has vanished this year for the first time ever.I''m a single mom with two girls 16 and 18 and a new born.everyone here has been laid off from their jobs.I''VE

[straightmate]

This guy is what Christmas is.

[closethippy1]

"Grown men wail and burst into tears."

Anyone who reacts this way after being given $100 or $200 is because they haven''t been able to smoke crack in a while. Pathetic.

[musethalia]

Wow! Awesome...finally a story worth the read! I wish we had the money to do the same where we live - there was an older gentleman who was a rancher in our town, drove a 1970''s car up until he died, not very long ago - he lived for only what he needed, very modest yet whenever anyone came upon hardship, he would secretly send a ''repairman'' out to fix what they needed - new roof, replace windows, etc, all on his hard earned, well saved dollar - they never got a bill or knew who was behind it, intentionally. We only know because my husband knew him well as a child, as my husband grew older and became the CEO where he works, ''donations'' were given by this gentleman to people in the organization who were going through hardship, but on the condition that he remained anonymous - still amazes me when I think of it - Rest in peace W.C. although I''m sure he is! : )
Merry Christmas.