More than 30 years ago, Tucker Lott had a dream, and that dream has become a movement.
Lott created The Soul of Santa “Do Good” Foundation, a nonprofit that assists highly functioning adults with disabilities like his late daughter, Aria Lott, who struggled with epilepsy. The foundation has grown from Lott’s vision to an organization offering a wide range of services, from doling out scholarships and grants to distributing food and providing mentorship.
To create exposure for the foundation, Lott, who imagined the Soul of Santa persona for himself, produces two large Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies on the east side of Kansas City: one at The Shops on Blue Parkway and the other in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. His goal is to unite the city while helping everyone discover their inner selves.
What is the inspiration behind the creation of the Soul of Santa? The inspiration came to me from out of the blue. It was a burning desire to make a difference in the lives of people like me, who grew up poor, feeling as if Santa had overlooked me because I was “less than.” I then understood that the celebration could be shared by everyone if we all just paused and looked inside ourselves to find what makes us all equal. I found out that the inner person can drive the outer person to help make change, especially in the lives of those who are less fortunate. The one person this “movement toward good” centered around was my daughter, Aria. She suffered from epilepsy.
Do you and your family have a special holiday tradition? We make sure that we entertain someone who may be new to the city and without family close by. We bring them in and show love and compassion. That has turned into a tradition where some of them come back after they have left, just to exchange presents after midnight on Christmas eve. It’s our extended family celebration.
Why is it so important for you to celebrate the holidays with elaborate Christmas trees on Kansas City’s east side? I didn’t grow up with a tradition like that, but I prayed that I could someday give back to a community that would appreciate feeling included, right where they grew up. Every part of the city matters. Everyone’s culture matters. Everyone’s Christmas matters. The Soul of Santa is here to create an atmosphere of inclusiveness and a celebration that breaks barriers without breaking the spirit of the holiday for anyone.
You decided to build an ice skating rink in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. What are you hoping to accomplish with that? I hope that every platform from which we speak shows love and sparks a move of the heart and soul. As a child, most of us could only dream about what we see on TV and the more affluent areas of the city where things like ice skating are accessible. Why not ice skating in the underserved communities? I want to add to the historic legacy that already lives here and bring back the luster that tourists come expecting to see in the 18th and Vine Jazz District. It creates options, and it’s good for business development in the area.
What is the importance of giving back to the community, and why have you always done it? This is an easy answer. Giving back comes from your spirit. I have a spirit of giving because God always replenishes the resources. You can’t beat God giving. It’s the right thing to do. And the church said “amen!”
