Yes, America, There is a Secret Santa

Although the original Secret Santa -- Kansas City's Larry Stewart, who sadly died early this year of throat cancer -- is no longer dashing through the snow or down the sidewalk, handing out $100 to any total stranger who looked like they were in sore need of extra holiday cash, his holy spirit is taking his mission all across the nation.

The young Stewart lived in poverty in Mississippi. Then, as a young man, his business went under and he was on the streets, living out of his car.

One morning, after he had not eaten for two days, he was so hungry that he just couldn't help himself: He stopped into a restaurant and ordered a big breakfast, planning to claim that he had lost his wallet and try and "dine and dash" when the bill came.

But when the restaurant owner came out with his bill and Stewart began to tell his lie, the owner suddenly bent down by Stewart's table and picked up a conveniently "dropped" $20 bill. "You must have dropped this," said the manager, handing the money to Stewart.

After that incident, Stewart vowed that he would make it a life mission to help those in need whenever he could.

Eventually, he became a very successful businessman. He played "Secret Santa" anonymously for 25 years, only coming forward to take credit when he knew he was close to death, just after Christmas last year. He gave away close to $1.5 million in cash to strangers in those 25 years.

One of the new Secret Santas was a friend of Stewart's. At first, he didn't want the job, thinking that he could never do it. But the incredibly persuasive Stewart, as he was known to be, convinced his friend otherwise only a week before his death in January of 2007.

He's Kansas City, Missouri's new jolly old elf of the $100 bills. And, he says, it really isn't easy.

San Diego, Phoenix, and Charlotte are other cities known to have Secret Santas handing out cash this holiday season.

A week ago, in Charlotte, that city's Secret Santa and his elvish entourage handed out $40,000 in just one day.

"It's really not about the money. It's about a random act of kindness," said North Carolina's anonymous Father Christmas.

Most of the new Secret Santas are also wealthy businessmen with kind hearts, although there is also some donated money being given away this Christmas.

The people this journalist corresponded with about Secret Santa were all touched deeply, and some have been inspired to play their own Secret Santa or elf role next year.

"That's what makes Christmas truly come to life," said one person I talked to.

Secret Santa is multiplying; trend monitoring reveals that consumers are tending to give more thoughtful, less consumption-frenzy-oriented gifts this year; and American philanthropy is at arguably its highest level in U.S. history.

In spite of many accusations to the contrary, evidence suggests that avarice and self-centeredness are not the main motivators of American society.