George Wieder could be Atlanta’s best-known volunteer, but only to the many charitable organizations with which he crosses paths. To everyone else, his contributions might go unnoticed.
Friend and fellow volunteer Christiane O’Hare Seifring said the nonprofits know him because he’s so generous.
“There must be 25 to 30 organizations that he’s associated with, donates time to and spends time with,” she said. “He goes across organizations. He just answers the call.”
The 75-year-old retired Air Force lieutenant colonel is always looking for ways to be helpful and give generously. He reads to elementary school students every week with the Atlanta Kiwanis Club and delivers sandwiches and cookies to the USO every Wednesday, though it’s a 100-mile round trip from his house.
Throughout December, the Tucker resident flies under the radar in his Santa suit, his smile shining past a well-coiffed beard as he brings holiday magic to kids who can’t make it to the mall. His Santa visits are free, of course, and will likely come with presents that Wieder has purchased himself.
“He’s the perfect Santa because he’s happy all the time. He was born with the happy gene,” said Judy Wieder, his wife of 53 years and a retired DeKalb County school teacher and media specialist.
Perhaps the greatest way he contributes is by creating elaborate theme baskets for silent auctions, a favorite fundraiser that helps many of these nonprofits stay afloat.
Last year, he put together 109 gift baskets with items he purchased himself. Most of his baskets are worth $200 to $250 retail, but Wieder never pays retail. He shops throughout the year, often clearing out store shelves during deeply discounted sales. If it’s 90% off, he’ll buy up everything he knows he can turn over as a gift. In his head, each item has a home before he opens his wallet.
Judy says her husband has a natural talent for making up the baskets, and, on his shopping trips, he can remember all the organizations and what they need.
“He’s very artistic in creating these baskets,” she said. “His mind never stops going.”
The catalyst to all of Wieder’s volunteerism is the Atlanta Kiwanis Club, where he has been an active member for the past 14 years. Kiwanis are involved in helping youth, and each week the club meets and hears speakers from other organizations that benefit children.
Wieder said he’s always impressed by those who run these nonprofits, and there are so many needs he rarely ever turns down an invitation to help. Sometimes he’ll make 10 baskets for one auction, and he always delivers them himself.
“I started helping a few organizations with baskets and gradually your name gets around and you do more and more,” he said.
Camp Kiwanis, a nonprofit camp owned by the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, can always count on Wieder for his Santa visits, and also for his support throughout the year, said director Carly Robinson.
“George truly embodies Santa in every way. He not only gives his time and attention, he tracks down supplies and gifts for the kids and our teen staff. We really appreciate his exuberance in all that we do,” she said.
Wieder’s likely to find whatever the campers need in his own basement, which is trove of treasures he’s collected over the years. Shelves and plastic bins spill over with themed items on Christmas, Halloween, pop culture and sports teams, just to name a few. He has spools of ribbon and baskets of all sizes.
He even lets nonprofits “shop” there, taking whatever they need for table decorations and gifts for galas or other special events at no cost.
Wieder said he grew up in a generous family. His mother, a nurse, would sometimes bring people home who had no place to go. Judy Wieder said her husband is not only carrying on that legacy but also has passed it on to their two children.
Said Seifring: “George is needs-centric. He asks: ‘Who needs my help and how can I best serve them’.”
WHAT INSPIRES GEORGE WIEDER?
Helping children: His favorite quote is from teacher and scholar Forest E. Witcraft: "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."
Finding a bargain: "When things are 90% or better, there's no question. I'm buying it."
Playing Santa: He's on his third suit and gets his wig and beard styled professionally. The Empty Stocking Fund and the Kiwanis Camp for Kids were among his 18 Santa visits last year. For many years, he was Santa at the holiday fundraiser, the Atlanta Festival of Trees. "That was the ultimate," he said. "It was just incredible. You felt like a rock star."
HELP US INSPIRE ATLANTA
We recognize a big part of our journalistic mission is to shine a spotlight on wrongdoings and to hold our public officials accountable.
But we also understand the importance of celebrating our region’s moments, milestones and people. That’s exactly what we hope to accomplish with Inspire Atlanta.
Each week, Inspire Atlanta will profile a person that makes metro Atlanta a better place in which to live.
Of course, we can't do this alone: We need your help in finding extraordinary people and identifying inspiring stories across our region. Christiane O'Hara Seifring suggested today's story on George Wieder. She says her friend spends most of his day, every day, in volunteer service to various organizations.
Know someone who inspires you or makes metro Atlanta a better place for others?
Email us at inspireatlanta@ajc.com.
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