Cash-Giving Secret Santa Needs Your Help

Nov. 27, 2006 — -- For 26 years, he kept his identity a secret -- but now, diagnosed with an agressive form of cancer, the nation's most famous Secret Santa is revealing his name: Larry Stewart.

Stewart also has a big request: He wants you to help him carry on his work by giving a leg up to those in need.

Stewart's story is both sad and inspiring: He handed out fistfuls of cash to needy, and astonished, people in his hometown of Kansas City. As the years went on, he also did his work in other cities needing help -- New York after 9/11, New Orleans after the hurricane.

He gave away more than $1.3 million dollars over his long and generous career. He didn't want thanks, so he didn't reveal his name.

But Stewart recently was diagnosed with cancer and decided it was time to come forward so others can pick up his tradition.

"It is a tremendous rush; it's addictive," Stewart said of his gift-giving. "It makes you feel so good inside. It's healing."

Stewart, 58, grew up poor, at one point living out of his car. He got a hand on the road back from homelessness from a man who gave him some cash, and immediately he began giving back.

He started small, with an extra-large tip at a drive-in. After making millions in the telecommunications industry, Stewart upped his donations from a few $5 bills to a few hundreds per recipient.

Reporters were sometimes allowed to tag along (if they agreed not to reveal Stewart's name) and they heard the astonished reactions. Most were variations on, "He's a wonderful man," and, "I wish I knew his name so I can thank him."

In April, Stewart learned he has a very aggressive cancer in his esophagus. He's been through a dozen rounds of chemotherapy and goes back for more in January.

He says he'll be out again this season giving away cash, but now he wants some help. So last month, he allowed "The Kansas City Star" to name him. From there, his story spread to papers across the country and to ABC's "World News" and "Good Morning America."

Stewart was still not interested in thanks, but he did want to encourage others to follow his lead. And it worked.

ABC News has been inundated with calls from viewers asking how they could contact Stewart and help his cause. Stewart has trained four new Secret Santas, and reports from Kansas City say many more are eager to join the efforts.

Just as Stewart started small, so are his disciples.

Pat O'Neill, a Stewart family friend, said parents in Kansas City are giving their kids early Christmas money and telling them to find something positive to do with it.

"He's been in great spirits," O'Neill said of Stewart. "He's been totally buoyed by all these people doing things for other people."

"It would be my hope that every parent would create an atmosphere of giving and pass it on," Stewart wrote ABC News in a statement. "There is nothing like sitting down with your child and discussing ideas on how another person could be helped by a gift to pass on to someone else with a greater need."

If you would like to contact the Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, he can be reached at santa@secretsantausa.com, or at 4020 Baltimore St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111.