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Interview with Andrew Goldstein

Aired December 24, 2002 - 14:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." Remember that line? "New York Sun," 1897. And for a lot of kids in Charlotte, North Carolina, he is Jewish.
Andrew Goldstein operates a restaurant called Good Old Days, and he definitely gets into the spirit of the holidays. He joins us now by telephone to tell us more about his annual project -- Andrew, hello.

ANDREW GOLDSTEIN, RESTAURANT OPERATOR: Good afternoon, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So tell us about this project. We have been reading about you in all the papers.

GOLDSTEIN: Well, we started with 23 kids six years ago from one local orphanage, and since then, every other group home in the southeast has given us a phone call, including the Department of Social Services, United Cerebral Palsy, United Way, you name it and we have been able to help them.

North Carolina people, when they found out what we were doing, have stood behind us year after year, and they make it happen. We do not turn any non-profit organization away.

PHILLIPS: So tell us what you do, Andrew.

GOLDSTEIN: What we do is we distribute, with hundreds of volunteers, to local children's homes and orphanages and hospitals and needy people throughout the Carolinas, and luckily enough, we have a little over 400 volunteers that deliver for us.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Now, tell me, why you started doing this. Your grandfather had a tremendous impact on you, didn't he?

GOLDSTEIN: My grandfather was my love. He grew up in an orphanage in Brooklyn, New York, and was very happy to get food, shelter, and clothing, and was able to do things for children, and taught me the reason that you're human, and human is to give, and that's not about religion to us, it is about being human and being a good neighbor, and he just taught me a lot of good will.

PHILLIPS: Wow. And it is not only Christmas, but you really help kids all year 'round, don't you?

GOLDSTEIN: Christmas is one day out of the year. We try and do things for all of these orphanages and group homes all year around, and luckily enough, Charlotte, North Carolina, is an amazing place to live and stand behind me with everything I do.

PHILLIPS: So, has there been a moment that you can recall, maybe a child has said something to you, or an adult that just really moved you, and you thought to yourself, I am really glad that I am doing this?

GOLDSTEIN: You know, I got to watch my father-in-law, who is a lovable man, he was out with a young child standing out in our dining room, and a little boy looked up at him and just asked him for a hug. And here is this man who is upper in the 5-foot range, he is a tall man, and this little boy, about 6 years old, and he wasn't even interested in Santa Claus, he just wanted a hug. And it makes you realize it is not about toys, about giving -- it is more about giving your time and giving of yourself, not just the toy.

PHILLIPS: You know, you think of all that money that goes into building these huge churches and cathedrals. I guess there is a lot more we can do with that money.

GOLDSTEIN: I wish we spent more money on each other for the needy, not just to build these big cathedrals and huge temples that we are building across the country. I wish we would take care of the ones that are starving at home instead.

PHILLIPS: What is this -- you talk about your grandfather being such an influence on you, but you know what? I mean, it takes something else too. What moves you to keep doing this, Andrew?

GOLDSTEIN: The community stands behind me with everything I do. Charlotte people, the media, the Panther players, have just stood behind me. If I tell them anything I need, they are all there for me, and they give me the motivation to continue and grow out what we're doing.

This year, we are able to take care of a little over 30,000 children, starting from 23 children six years ago. And if it wasn't for Charlotte doing what they do year after year, I couldn't continue to do what I am doing.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know you have got your grandmother rooting for you too, and she is watching this right now.

GOLDSTEIN: I love you...

PHILLIPS: Andrew Goldstein, we salute you from Charlotte.

GOLDSTEIN: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: We appreciate your time and your effort.

GOLDSTEIN: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 24, 2002 - 14:55   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." Remember that line? "New York Sun," 1897. And for a lot of kids in Charlotte, North Carolina, he is Jewish.
Andrew Goldstein operates a restaurant called Good Old Days, and he definitely gets into the spirit of the holidays. He joins us now by telephone to tell us more about his annual project -- Andrew, hello.

ANDREW GOLDSTEIN, RESTAURANT OPERATOR: Good afternoon, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So tell us about this project. We have been reading about you in all the papers.

GOLDSTEIN: Well, we started with 23 kids six years ago from one local orphanage, and since then, every other group home in the southeast has given us a phone call, including the Department of Social Services, United Cerebral Palsy, United Way, you name it and we have been able to help them.

North Carolina people, when they found out what we were doing, have stood behind us year after year, and they make it happen. We do not turn any non-profit organization away.

PHILLIPS: So tell us what you do, Andrew.

GOLDSTEIN: What we do is we distribute, with hundreds of volunteers, to local children's homes and orphanages and hospitals and needy people throughout the Carolinas, and luckily enough, we have a little over 400 volunteers that deliver for us.

PHILLIPS: Wow. Now, tell me, why you started doing this. Your grandfather had a tremendous impact on you, didn't he?

GOLDSTEIN: My grandfather was my love. He grew up in an orphanage in Brooklyn, New York, and was very happy to get food, shelter, and clothing, and was able to do things for children, and taught me the reason that you're human, and human is to give, and that's not about religion to us, it is about being human and being a good neighbor, and he just taught me a lot of good will.

PHILLIPS: Wow. And it is not only Christmas, but you really help kids all year 'round, don't you?

GOLDSTEIN: Christmas is one day out of the year. We try and do things for all of these orphanages and group homes all year around, and luckily enough, Charlotte, North Carolina, is an amazing place to live and stand behind me with everything I do.

PHILLIPS: So, has there been a moment that you can recall, maybe a child has said something to you, or an adult that just really moved you, and you thought to yourself, I am really glad that I am doing this?

GOLDSTEIN: You know, I got to watch my father-in-law, who is a lovable man, he was out with a young child standing out in our dining room, and a little boy looked up at him and just asked him for a hug. And here is this man who is upper in the 5-foot range, he is a tall man, and this little boy, about 6 years old, and he wasn't even interested in Santa Claus, he just wanted a hug. And it makes you realize it is not about toys, about giving -- it is more about giving your time and giving of yourself, not just the toy.

PHILLIPS: You know, you think of all that money that goes into building these huge churches and cathedrals. I guess there is a lot more we can do with that money.

GOLDSTEIN: I wish we spent more money on each other for the needy, not just to build these big cathedrals and huge temples that we are building across the country. I wish we would take care of the ones that are starving at home instead.

PHILLIPS: What is this -- you talk about your grandfather being such an influence on you, but you know what? I mean, it takes something else too. What moves you to keep doing this, Andrew?

GOLDSTEIN: The community stands behind me with everything I do. Charlotte people, the media, the Panther players, have just stood behind me. If I tell them anything I need, they are all there for me, and they give me the motivation to continue and grow out what we're doing.

This year, we are able to take care of a little over 30,000 children, starting from 23 children six years ago. And if it wasn't for Charlotte doing what they do year after year, I couldn't continue to do what I am doing.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know you have got your grandmother rooting for you too, and she is watching this right now.

GOLDSTEIN: I love you...

PHILLIPS: Andrew Goldstein, we salute you from Charlotte.

GOLDSTEIN: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: We appreciate your time and your effort.

GOLDSTEIN: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com