My Dad, Tucker Lott: What Doing Good Really Looks Like
J. Ryan Lott with his dad, Tucker, and with his dad, Soul of Santa
What does doing good mean to you? Maybe it's showing up at a soup kitchen once a year. Maybe it's paying for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-thru, or holding a door for someone who could use a hand. Those things matter. But I want to tell you what doing good has looked like for me my whole life, because I got to watch it up close. I call him Dad.
My dad, Tucker Lott, has been an entrepreneur for 25 years and has employed hundreds of people. Think about what that means. Hundreds of paychecks, which means families eating dinner together, kids staying in school, and a next generation with a real chance to lift their own families higher. He has helped thousands of people with rides, meals, and clothes, and he almost never waits to be asked. His first words to nearly anyone are, "How can I help?" He gives and gives without wanting a thing in return. I've seen it more times than I can count, and I do my best to mimic him while passing these values on to my own son, Tatum.
Many people in Kansas City have gotten to know him as the Soul of Santa. My dad grew up in a big family without much money, in a neighborhood where Christmas meant lots of love but not many gifts. That memory never left him. So he created a Santa for kids who grew up as he did, and a celebration to show the east side of Kansas City that they matter too. At the 18th and Vine Jazz District, that celebration has grown into tree lightings, concerts, toy and coat giveaways, and even an outdoor ice skating rink.
In 2019, my Dad, along with our family and friends, started the Soul of Santa Do Good Foundation. Its heart is a simple promise: no one should ever feel forgotten or overlooked because of a disability. The foundation supports high-functioning adults with disabilities and their parents and caregivers, helping with job training, food, transportation, clothing, and financial literacy, along with scholarships, grants, and mentorship.
The mission is personal for us. My sister Aria lived with epilepsy, and she inspired the foundation. We lost her in August 2022, and her spirit is in everything we do. Her songs are part of the Soul of Santa Christmas album, a warm mix of Kansas City jazz, R&B, and hip-hop. The music is joyful, and it also makes room for grief and for anyone missing a loved one at the holidays.
And the giving doesn't stop when the lights come down. Every year the foundation hosts a free community breakfast, now in its seventh year, where families leave with food, brand-new winter clothing, toys, and financial and health resources. Kids get tickets to "shop" for the items they need, so families leave feeling uplifted instead of just helped. My dad also visits schools to hand out financial literacy books so young people have tools for their futures.
Do Good isn't something we save for one season. When you wake up in the morning, you should be looking for a way to make someone's life better. He mentors so many people and is a father figure to even more, a guiding light who will give everything away so others can discover the greater joys of life. I am motivated by how he interacts and treats people.
So what does doing good mean to you? For my dad, it means asking "How can I help?" every single day, and then following through. I'm so proud to be his son and even more proud that my Son gets to see and know who my hero is.
Images: Left: Legacy: Tucker, J. Ryan, and Tatum Right. The family, including Aria to the left of Dad, Tucker.
J.Ryan Lott is the son of Tucker Lott and board member for the Do Good Foundation. He resides in Overland Park, Kansas with his wife Amy and son Tatum. He's been in commercial finance for 12 years, and enjoys coaching youth soccer as well.
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