DAPHNE, Ala.—Santa America—a Daphne-based non-profit organization that provides white-bearded Santa Clauses who visit sick and dying children year-round—announced the appointment of John Scheuch as its new executive director.

Scheuch, of Prairie Village, Kan., replaces Cathy Barnette, who served as executive director since 2007. Barnette, a city council member, will remain with the organization and join the Santa America National Advisory Board.

“My personal circumstances have changed and I can no longer have the time to give the Santa America organization what it needs to thrive,” Barnette said.

“My departure was timed in the best interest of the organization. My commitment to the mission remains firm as I will remain on the advisory board.”

“Cathy Barnette is moving on to focus on the for-profit environmental area,” founder Ernest Berger said.

Barnette in the past had served as executive director of the Fairhope-based Alabama Coastal Foundation, which aims to protect Alabama’s coastal resources by identifying and solving problems through education, cooperation and participation, according to its Web site.

Berger recognized Barnette’s contributions in taking Santa America from a grassroots start-up to a nationally recognized service organization operating in 44 states and six countries.

“She took Santa America to a very strong regional presence and national presence.”

“Santa America was my first non-profit job and that appealed to me,” Barnette said. “I loved my time with Santa America delivering love, hope and joy throughout the country.”

Scheuch adds corporate marketing and sales experience to the Santa America mission, combined with more than 30 years of Santa experience with special-needs children.

“What John Scheuch brings is the ability to take it that much further,” Berger said. “It’s kind of an evolutionary matter.”