Anonymous donor “Pete” returns to Easterseals for 33rd year.

Beloved “Secret Santa” delivers $3,000 to make Christmas merrier for children in need served by the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center and Easterseals Early Learning Center.

Pete’s donations since 1990 have now surpassed $106,000.

The beloved anonymous benefactor who calls himself “Pete” returned to the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center this morning to hide his generous surprise! Including today’s gift, Pete has now made 43 generous donations to Easterseals since 1990. Pete notified Easterseals that he had just delivered a gift, and staff should hurry to look for his donation outside the nonprofit organization’s headquarters at 3701 Bellemeade Avenue in Evansville.

A group of staff members followed Pete’s directions and found a gift bag. Inside was a colorful holiday drawstring bag that held 30 one-hundred-dollar bills, making a total donation of $3,000. Photos and videos are available at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Pyv_I1Pbo-Qf7D8knN0vfNpvJv5zx7g8

Again this year—like so many years before—Pete stressed that his donation should be used to provide gifts to children with disabilities from disadvantaged families served by the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center and Easterseals Early Learning Center. The organization’s therapists, teachers, and other staff gladly act as Pete’s elves, purchasing and delivering presents from Pete for young clients and their siblings who would otherwise have a meager holiday.

Pete has said that giving this donation makes his day and he loves that his giving spirit has inspired many other individuals, groups, and companies to join the effort and “adopt” children and families each holiday season. Thanks to the combined generosity of Pete and others in the community, more than 158 individuals served by Easterseals will receive assistance this year. Gifts will range from toys, books and games to socks, shoes and winter coats.

Easterseals employees do not know the identity of their mysterious gift-giver, who has always referred to himself as “Pete.” Including this most recent delivery, Pete’s contributions over the past 33 years now total $106,450. All of Pete’s contributions have been designated to fill the needs of local children with disabilities. This “secret Santa’s” donations have always arrived in the form of hundred-dollar bills delivered in fun, creative ways. As usual, accompanying Pete’s latest delivery was a hand-written note with the words “You will hear from me again. Pete”

Easterseals invites the community to share Pete’s giving spirit by enjoying Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights in Evansville’s Garvin Park nightly through Jan. 1. All proceeds from the drive-through light show provide inclusive early education and essential therapy services, empowering Tri-State children and adults with disabilities to achieve their own unique goals and dreams.