Century Park Blog

Ernest J. Moore gives away wild hats for fun.

"The first hat that I gave away was an accident," says Ernie. The hat was an unusual, pure red color, one of the many odd hats Ernie has worn over the years. He says that this experience, more than 20 years ago, triggered in him the realization that his odd gifts make people really happy. He now buys lively Guatemalan hats from a distributor in California. These hats have a small zipper pocket where he places his business card and a poem about sharing a smile. At the end of the poem, Ernie writes, "Wearing unusual hats is passing a smile. Do not pass the hat; just pass a smile! I'm glad I shared my hat today - wear it with a smile."

Ernie estimates that he's given close to 1,000 hats away. He says he doesn't mind the expense as long as his gift is meaningful to others. "My motivation is to make them happy, and it does!"

The hats are given out at random, typically to people he connects with or who compliment his hats. Occasionally he receives a thank you card, but he's surprised at how infrequent that is.

Ernie met his wife, Joan, about 10 years ago. He said it was an instant connection and the two are a perfect match. Though he is quick to add that the hat thing - that's his venture.

Ernie's first wife passed away after 56 years of marriage, 35 of which he spent caring for her after an accident that left her a paraplegic.

After her death, Ernie started an account with Match.com where he met and fell in love with Joan. The two moved into Garden Plaza of Aurora, where Ernie continues to share hats.

Ernie has woven the spirit of generosity into his everyday life, as well as his future. He will leave behind his retirement and assets to the Wycliffe Bible Translation Foundation Inc., an organization that translates the Bible into unwritten languages.

"Well I'm a believer that Christ is the savior of the world," says Ernie about what inspires his giving nature. "And as a Christian, I believe that you share and give everything. I don't know where it would come from if it didn't come from that."