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PENNSYLVANIA MAN INDUCTED INTO INTERNATIONAL SANTA CLAUS HALL OF FAME

 

 

Dutch Schrap, 49, of Douglassville, Pennsylvania has been inducted into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame, Class of 2017. The induction ceremony took place in Denver, Colorado on Friday evening, April 20, 2018. Schrap became the youngest member ever nominated and inducted.

 

The International Santa Claus Hall of Fame is the home of the celebration and study of famous Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus of the past and present. The International Santa Claus Hall of Fame is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, the fourth-century bishop known for his great deeds of generosity.

 

Schrap shares the Hall of Fame with previous inductees such as Edmund Gwenn, who portrayed Santa in Miracle on 34th Street; Haddon Sundblom, the famous Coca-Cola Santa Claus artist; Mickey Rooney, the voice of Santa in Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town; Ed Asner, who starred as Santa Claus in the movie ELF.

 

Schrap has been a professional Santa Claus Actor for 33 years, known as America’s Favorite Santa ™ to his fans. Starting at the age of 16, in the footsteps of his Father, he began his vocation by caroling in locally, visiting homes of friends, and marketing Santa to local country clubs. Dutch has grown into the charismatic, Traditional Santa personality who glows with the holiday spirit and exudes an exciting energy. Schrap has built a reputation for creating the most-true persona of Santa Claus that never compromises a child's belief. Santa looks as though he comes straight out of a children’s storybook.

 

Schrap has been featured in dozens of publications, and television broadcasts. Over his career as the Big Man in Red, he has performed at companies such as The Bellevue, Philadelphia Flyers, Philadelphia 76ers, Reading Fightin Phils, Comcast, Philadelphia Stock Exchange and more to incorporate his realistic Santa knowledge into their corporate holiday parties and charity efforts. In addition, each year, Schrap was the Santa in the Lansdale Mardi Gras Parade for 12 years and for then-Pennsylvania's Governor Edward G. Rendell's at the Governor's Residence. One of his dreams were fulfilled in 2015 when he was given the great Honor of the Official Santa Claus of the 6ABC / Dunkin Donuts Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. He held this position from 2015 to 2022 of bringing the parade to a close each year and running the Rocky Steps during the finale.  You will always hear him say, “Always Believe!”  Schrap manifests magic and belief like no other.

 

Schrap is also a Community Believer. In 2012, Schrap and his wife, Jennifer founded a 501(c)3 Federally recognized, charitable foundation, Operation Nine Reindeer, Inc.  They receive nominations for local area families with unforeseen circumstances and bring the selected recipients a Christmas filled with love, joy, and magical wonderment. Since 2012, the Schraps, with the help of their community and friends, have brought Christmas to many families.  These families receive everything they need for Christmas, plus help with bills, gift cards, needs, wants, and so much more. This venture is one of the many reasons for his induction into the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame and one of his biggest passions.  Schrap said, “I have molded my Santa vocation and business model to benefit Operation Nine Reindeer, Inc.”  Schrap dedicated his award to these families saying, “We will never stop believing in the families we have helped previously and we will never stop bringing cheer to others in the future.  We promise.”

 

 

In Dutch's tenure as Santa Claus, he has been awarded the Santa Claus Oath Foundation award, Through the Eyes of a Child award, a 2016 nominee for the Humanitarian of the Year award, and in 2015 was commissioned into the Knights of Saint Nicholas. He, along with his Wife has also been recognized for their foundation, Operation Nine Reindeer, Inc., from Government and Community Leaders.