Some generous man at Evansville, Indiana has been donating large amounts of money to a rehabilitation center. He leaves these gifts around the area: in the back of a truck, near a trash can, in a tree, etc. It sounds really sketch, but he would leave thousands of dollars and other gifts. He is known just as "Pete". He has made a total of 30 donations. His first recipients were two kids diagnosed with cerebral palsy and they received $1500.
The man refuses to identify himself more than just Pete.
Everyone loves free money, but doesn't this seem really sketch? A Christmas present near a trash can? in a truck bed?
19 comments:
YES. THIS IS REALLY SKETCH. If you want to donate money then just DONATE THE MONEY. Don't hide it around a DUMPSTER. These are exactly the kind of situations that lead to child abduction!
I have to disagree with Aaron. What this "Pete" is doing is true genuine kindness. I really do not feel he is trying to abduct a child. It is really sad, when someone does something truly good for society there are some who believe there are ulterior motives. This is what true donations should be, not something that we get a free tax break out of. By donating the money flat out, he would be giving up his identity, which is what he does not want.
Meanwhile it seems there is another secret Santa roaming around: http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=86681. In fact every year there are many people who are willing to give up their hard earned money to help ones who are in lesser circumstances. Has there not been a statement going around of "random acts of kindness". I feel this is just a nice way of saying Happy Holidays and to help out others (the best gift of all).
I think it is saddening that whenever someone does something nice, there is skepticism that goes with it. It speaks to how in society today, people are not given the benefit of the doubt.
Sketch or not, it's feeding people, so who cares? There are lots of people who donate anonymously. The organization I work for got a $200K anonymous donation, and we on the board are not going to debate the "sketch" factor of the donation. @Aaron: Talk about a non-sequiter ;) "These are exactly the kind of situations that lead to child abduction!"
I think it's a very kind gesture of Pete to be donating these large sums of money to those who need it. As sketch as it may sound that he's leaving all of this money next to places where anyone can take it, maybe he's putting TRUST in those people who come across it to know that this money is going towards those who desperately need it. No matter what his actual intentions are for doing this, he surely is cheering up the holiday spirit for those in the rehabilitation center.
I'm sure Pete means the best, and isn't trying to be sketch, but why isn't he just giving straight to the charity or people who he wants to give to? I feel like putting money around a dumpster isn't really the best way to go. But hey, at least he's doing it and being a good hearted person.
I think that a donation with an anonymous donor who gains nothing from the donation besides the satisfaction of doing something kind is the most noble donation of all. Even though the circumstances are odd, it is still great to see something like this happening. As long as the donation is made, does it really matter if he calls himself Santa Pete and leaves the presents in unconventional places?
@Jason: Nothing like a little sensationalism to start off a blog post :)(Im sure we're all used to it at this point.)
I just want to clear this up. I do think what this person is doing is a very nice thing. I also agree with Jonathan when he says what Pete is doing is an act of "genuine kindness," but does he really need to do it in such a bizarre way? There are a lot of other, safer ways of donating anonymously. I'm sure, Jason, that the 200k donation did not appear next to a garbage bin. The point I'm trying to make is that the donation did not have to be set up in such a convoluted way. Ayaka is correct in stating that there is a lot of mistrust and skepticism that surrounds truly good intentions. It is a sad truth, but that skepticism is part of human nature and there is no breaking it (we can discuss for hours in my lack of faith in humanity, but lets just move on). My point is it I feel that Pete should have just given the money, and ask for it to be given anonymously. This would not arouse suspicion and life could just go on with no questions asked.
I also do believe it is a bit sketch, but regardless of this man's intention, the results are beneficial so we should just accept his kind gestures as is.
I say, why not? If "Santa Pete" wants to donate his money to those who need it, why should we try to stop him? It's his money, after all, and he's just helping others who could use the assistance. If people are concerned about the donations' location, the kid's parents could simply go get it in lieu of their offspring. It's just a nice gesture, I think.
Not only are there other modern-day Santas roaming around, as Jonathan pointed out, the practice has roots going back decades. According to an article from the magazine "Smithsonian," in 1933 a man named Sam Stone took out an ad in the Canton, Ohio newspaper under the name "B. Virdot" offering donations of $5, which was quite a lot of money during the Depression, to those who wrote him about their hardships and explained why they were deserving. It was anonymous, just like Pete's gifts, and it's another example of the "timeless holiday spirit."
I know it's early, but I wish a happy ChristmaHaunaKwanzaSolstice to all of you!
if it really was stalker, child abduction status, or whatever, then those who have received his gifts would know most likely know who he is and develop a close relationship or whatever... but everybody that's reading this all jump to conclusions after they read "first recipients were two kids"
my opinion on the guy: a philanthropist with a humble character.what we have here is a person who wants to help people without the drama of drawing out the media. because nowadays, even large charities running more like businesses and need media attention
-raymond lim
The whole anonymous philanthropist bit can only go so far when someone purposefully leaves huge sums of money for people to find. It is going to create a media story in the least and questions as to the identity of the individual responsible. The man is trying to do well, but at the same time get attention from the media without his name specifically being used. The "anonymity" of only using a nickname and obviously leaving money at random locations give both parties the satisfaction they want and deserve.
A man can give to others without being hassled by the media while still being recognized, and people can have money given to them for whatever ailment afflicts them or their loved ones.
Charity is charity and it comes in many ways. Does it really matter how Santa Pete is doing his good deeds? no it shouldn't. lets just be glad he's giving away free cash and not something dangerous like explosives. Thank you Pete for your generous donations towards the community.
I dont think its "sketch"
Its great that someone is tryingto help, even though they dont want their identity to be reveiled. His money went to good use and saved lives.
My first concern after immediately reading this was not about the sketchinessof Pete, but about the safety of the hospital. If news is getting out that there is a individual who is leaveing large sums of money and goods around the hospital, that could attract potentially harmful situations/ people.
frankly, i think that the this person may eventually to more harm then good by leaving money for people to find. And whos says the the money is alwasy received by the hospital. If a not so kind worker/ passerby find the money first, theres no rule sayign that they cant take it for themselves.
I think that it is a bit sketch and i feel that "pete" is doing a nice thing. but i think he should at least donate his gifts in a way that isn't sketch.
I agree, it's sketchy, but in whatever this way is, he's still helping out the patients at the rehabilitation center.
So while he may be doing his good deed in an odd way, he's still doing a good deed.
Like most people, I do think this is pretty sketchy. But I mean, it's going to a good cause. I have a question thought... how do they know who the money is intended for if he's leaving it around all of these random places? And what if the wrong person picked it up? I think that's the sketchiest part of it...
Yeah that's really an odd way to leave money....in a dumpster. But, donating money is donating money. The guy has done a nice thing and has express kind gestures so he deserves some sort of recognition.
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