Christmas Magic: Donor transforms rare collection into care for children

Santa’s helpers come in all shapes and sizes. One of his “elves” has been visiting Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia for years, bringing toys, clothes and other goodies for the children and providing longtime funding for furry friends like Nugget, Casey and Loretta Lynn through the beloved Facility Dog program, which began in 2017.

“I’ve always been inclined to give to charity, especially to children,” said “Santa’s helper,” who prefers to remain anonymous. “Giving to the Children’s Hospital was a natural choice. When I noticed they needed (facility) dogs, I jumped in and said, ‘Let me create an endowment to have facility dogs.’ So, that was the first thing my wife and I did, and we just keep doing it.”

And he insists on giving every gift anonymously, which is why he came dressed in disguise, wearing a Santa hat and festive mask over his eyes when he gave his most recent gift on Dec. 4.

“If the Lord has given me any calling in life, it’s to give what I can to help others anonymously,” he said humbly. “My mentor once said, ‘It always has to be anonymous.’ According to the scriptures, too, so I’ve always kept it anonymous.”

In 2025, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. His diagnosis made him more aware of how little time he has left, so he wanted to leave a significant gift to WGCHOG. During the iHeartMedia Cares for Kids Radiothon at Wellstar Galisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia, this donor brought gifts from his personal collection of silver bullion and rare U.S. bills to establish the “CHOG Legacy” endowment. Through this donation, he wanted to show there are unique ways for people to support the causes they care about beyond writing a check or donating cash. This can be accomplished during their life or through an estate designation.

“Over my lifetime, I’ve collected American currency, including some of the rarest pieces in existence. Gold and silver bullion, in particular, increase in value dramatically over time — well beyond the average 3% annual inflation rate,” explained the donor. “People often have rare collections — whether it’s coins, currency, rare books, artwork or jewelry — that grow in value the longer they’re kept.”

By creating the CHOG Legacy Endowment, the donor hopes more people will consider giving partial or full collections to benefit Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital.

“When someone contributes appreciated property instead of selling it, they may also avoid the capital gains tax that would otherwise apply,” said Mary McCormack, associate vice president for Gift and Estate Planning in Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at Augusta University. “As a result, donating collectibles may avoid certain tax consequences.”

While this donor recognizes the personal benefits of giving, it is not why he gives.

“For me, giving has always been part of who I am. Kids deserve a fighting chance, especially with the high cost of treatment. At the end of the day, it all comes from the heart,” the donor said. “I hope people carefully contemplate their own legacy options and explore the advantages of giving their collections in addition to traditional gifts.”

If you would like to leave a legacy of your own or find out more about donating a rare collection, please email Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement or call 706-721-4001.