On Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1912, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, then an afternoon newspaper, carried a report on its front page about an event that happened at 11 a.m. that day. It's just as inspiring 100 years later as it was then.
"With a Christmas tree on top of the load to be delivered at a house where there are five children," the report said, "a big Armour truck began delivery of the Good Fellows' Christmas cheer."On that truck and in a caravan of private vehicles, "turkey, fuel, clothing and other good things" were being sent to needy people in Fort Worth. What's now the Goodfellow Fund, a project of the newspaper and its employees, was born.It wasn't easy that day."Owing to the mud on the south side following the rain of Sunday and the snow of Monday, the delivery is taking place slowly," the newspaper reported."Tired but enthusiastic over the happy faces created by the distribution, the hard workers in the movement are determined to make it an annual affair and to carry on the same good work next Christmas."And so they did, and for a century after.For its first deliveries, Goodfellows spent $1,200 and served 302 families, roughly 1,200 people, the news report said.The fundraising goal this year was set at $1 million to pay for gifts to 20,000 children from about 7,000 needy families. As recently as 2005, the number of children served was just 7,500. This year, applications for assistance were cut off in mid-November because the limit had been reached."It's heartbreaking that some folks won't be served," said Richard Greene, Goodfellow Fund executive director.Indeed, it is. But the bright side is that 20,000 kids are having a happier Christmas in 2012 than they otherwise would have, just like those 1,200 people back in 1912.People in Fort Worth have been generous in their support of Goodfellows during these sometimes turbulent years. They should be proud, as the Star-Telegram Editorial Board is, on this anniversary.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
