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John Daley reporting A children's museum in Ogden just got a very welcome Christmas present. But it came from a surprise source.
The mission of Ogden's Treehouse Museum is to be a magical place where kids can step into a story.
This week the Museum itself witnessed a great story.
Lynne Goodwin Director, Treehouse Museum: "Treehouse got a Christmas Present. An unexpected one."
As a fundraiser, Treehouse Museum is auctioning off a playhouse.
People have been stuffing the mailbox on the outside, with the odd dollar or two.
On Friday, museum staffer Casey Allen discovered something quite unusual in the mailbox, a large sum of money, some in cash, some in money orders.
Casey Allen/Treehouse Museum: "I was shocked. And actually I started looking around to figure if it was a practical joke or not. I was really suspcious and called the police to see if it was stolen or what."
Police traced the money orders to a homeless man who recently received the money in an insurance settlement. Why did he give the money to Treehouse?
Casey Allen/Treehouse Museusm: "Hearing things from other people, I have heard he wanted to make amends for things he'd done in his past."
Treehouse is moving to a new building, and desperately trying to raise three million dollars. The money from a man without a home will help the kids build a new one.
Lynne Goodwin Director/Treehouse Museum: "That was a very generous gift towards helping us find a permanent home."
Like many a good story--this one has its share of mystery. Museum officials and police will only say the donation was 4-figures--more than a thousand dollars.
And the identity of the Secret Santa? He prefers to remain anonymous.
The unusual donation ... will be enjoyed by many people. Every year nearly 90- thousand children, parents,and grandparents visit, Treehouse Museum.
