Donors to the Advertiser Christmas Fund were more generous in 2006, but there were fewer of them.

Some 1,625 people donated $214,517.55 to the fund for needy families from Thanksgiving to this week. About 1,800 donors participated in 2005.

The fund gathered $6,000 more during the 2005 holiday season, when the average donation was $99.

In 2006, the average donation was $111.

Maria Chomyszak, program manager at the Community Clearinghouse, said fewer donors meant less money from the Advertiser's "Secret Santa." The anonymous philanthropist matches the first $25 of every donation to the Christmas Fund.

Santa gave $32,600 in 2006. In 2005, it was $36,000.

Despite the drop in monetary donations, people gave more goods to needy families this year.

By Christmas Day, the Community Clearinghouse warehouse in Kalihi was packed with donated toys, children's bikes, furniture and appliances.

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND

Secret Santa — $32,600
David and Margaret Puder — $2,000
T.O. and M.O. — $1,800
Haruki Christmas Party — $450
Waiola Store and Waiola Shave Ice II — $250
Anonymous, in memory of Grandpa and Uncle Stan — $200
Maryknoll Schools — $100.46
J.R. Allen — $100
Roy Benham, in memory of Jackie — $100
Marya Grambs and Janet Montgomery — $100
David and Nancy Larsen — $100
Ronald and Miriam Mata — $100
Steffiny and Stephen Nelson — $100
Ronald and Jo-Anne Okubo — $100
Jane Wylie, in memory of Vicki McKee — $100
Teachers and staff at Webling Elementary School — $85
Keiko Niwa — $80
Gordon and Gayle Kam — $75
Bernard and Magdalena Cambia — $50
Robert and Amy Hughes — $50
Steven Jones — $50
Joanne and Darryl Jung — $50
Henry Q. C. Lau — $50
Joji and Ritsuko Seta — $50
Danny and Donna Denis, in loving memory of Minnie Pang — $50
H.Y. Tom, in memory of Marian Chun Tom and Rosalind S. Chun — $50
Keith Akana, in memory of Elizabeth Villa, Na Waiwai o Leeward — $25
Keith Akana, in memory of Venancia Kea, Na Waiwai o Leeward — $25
Keith Akana, in memory of Nani Kahaunaele, Na Waiwai o Leeward — $25
Cynthia M.L. Yee Bronson — $25
Judith Brown — $25
D.W. and S.A. Duelks — $25
Effie and Gail, in loving memory of our mother, Nancy Uehara Kam — $25
Randal Osato — $25
Bernice Xavier Salcedo — $25
Anonymous, in memory of Mercedes Correa Mata — $100
Anonymous, in memory of Yoko — $100
Anonymous — $100
Anonymous — $100
Anonymous — $50
Anonymous — $30
Anonymous, in memory of Yoshino and Yonezo Sueyasu — $25
Anonymous, in memory of Satoe and Hideichi Takane — $25
Anonymous — $25
Anonymous — $25
Anonymous — $25


Total: $ 39,670.46
Previous total: $ 174,847.09
Total to date: $ 214,517.55