Larry Stewart (philanthropist)

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Larry Stewart (April 1, 1948–January 12, 2007) was an American philanthropist from Kansas City better known as "Kansas City's Secret Santa." After poor beginnings, Stewart had—from 1979 through 2006—made a practice of anonymously handing out small amounts of cash, typically in the form of hundred-dollar bills, to needy people. The total amount he gave away is estimated to be $1.3 million.

Although he had also donated money to community charities in Kansas City and his hometown of Bruce, Mississippi, he believed in handing out cash directly to people in need because it is something people do not have to, as he said, "beg for, get in line for, or apply for."

He made his fortune through cable television and long-distance calling. Stewart successfully kept his identity hidden until 2006, when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which would later claim his life. He chose at that time to reveal his identity as part of an effort to encourage others to practice philanthropy.

Stewart's acts of kindness were not restricted to the Kansas City area. He has traveled to other metropolitan areas during times of local tragedy. He went to New York in 2001, and to Mississippi in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. After his illness, he began "training" other Secret Santas, who were scheduled to give out $65,000 during the 2006 holiday season, in addition to the money Stewart gave out.

Stewart was given a free dinner from 'Cookie' in 1979 when he was down on his luck, allegedly inspiring Stewart's personal tradition ^[1]. This in turn began with an impromptu act of kindness by Stewart. He was fired just before Christmas two years in a row, both in 1978 and 1979. Around Christmas of 1979, while nursing his wounds at a drive-in restaurant during a very cold day, he noticed a carhop working the cars outside. He recalled,

It was cold and this car hop didn't have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, `I think I got it bad. She's out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,. He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change. And suddenly I saw her lips begin to tremble and tears begin to flow down her cheeks. She said, `Sir, you have no idea what this means to me.'

His philanthropy has been supported and recognized by a number of well-known people, including Buck O'Neil, George Brett, Oprah Winfrey, and, in 2006 in Chicago, Dick Butkus (who had helped Larry as an "elf" since 2003).

Stewart died on January 12, 2007 from esophageal cancer, aged 58.