John Duval Gluck

John Duval Gluck Jr. (December 25, 1878 – 1951) was an American philanthropist, customs broker, and con artist who is best known for popularizing the practice of sending and answering letters to Santa Claus in New York City. Gluck's organization, the Santa Claus Association, would receive letters addressed to Santa Claus from impoverished children, investigate them to ensure that they were truly needy, and if approved would send gifts to those children.