International Santa of the Year

Christmas revisited

I didn't think much of sending out my Christmas card. I never dreamed that anyone would have thought that I was in fact, rubbing shoulders with Madiba.

As it turned out, some of you did.

Just to clarify, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela did not dress up in a Santa suit to wish me a Merry Christmas. Sorry for the confusion!

This statue stands in the boardroom of the NMCF offices. My first week here, I walked by the boardroom and caught sight of it out of the corner of my eye. I stopped in my tracks, certain that Madiba was standing in our office. When I poked my head in the door, I realized it was a statue.

I walked to the statue and was overcome by the look on his face. I was overcome by that smile Madiba always seems to have. I stood in front of the statue crying.

I have recently learned the statue was given to Mandela by the Premier of Greenland, Mr. Lars Emil Johansen, in 1995. Then President, Mandela was the first ever recipient of the "International Santa of the Year" award by the Santa Clause of Greenland Foundation. He was given the award for his concern for children. Madiba donated the $100,000 cash award to the Children's Fund.