Kirk Rittenberry: A Lifetime of Love, Loss, and Healing Told in Ink

Kirk Rittenberry: A Lifetime of Love, Loss, and Healing Told in Ink

A Life Etched in Ink: The Story of Kirk Rittenberry

For many, tattoos are a form of self-expression.
For Kirk Rittenberry, they’re a living memoir.

Over the last 50 years, Kirk has gathered tattoos like chapters of a book, each one inked by a different artist in a different shop across the world. His body has become a visual timeline of love, loss, personal growth, and transformation.

But Kirk is more than his ink.
He’s a man of deep compassion and uncommon generosity.
He’s not just a man with ink.
He’s a man with a heart of gold who gives it away freely, to everyone.

Now, Kirk’s story is reaching new heights. He’s a finalist in the Inked Magazine Cover Contest, where voting begins May 5th at 10 AM PDT. The winner will be featured in Inked Magazine and take home $25,000.

How Claus With A Cause Was Born

On November 19th, 2021, Kirk woke up to two missed calls, one at 4:16 AM and another at 7:15 AM.
He would soon learn that his close friend, Brian Huffman, had taken his own life that night.

Kirk had spoken to Brian at 8:32 PM just the evening before.

The loss was devastating. Kirk was overcome with shock, anger, grief, and heartbreak, feelings that rippled across the lives Brian had touched.

A year later, on Thanksgiving of 2022, Kirk gathered with friends for a memorial “Friendsgiving” in Brian’s honor. That’s when the idea for a charity was born, Claus With A Cause. Its mission: to support children and families who lose a loved one to suicide during the holidays.

“There are so many people who go through this same ordeal with little to no resources,” Kirk says.
“We want to help them find some peace, some joy, some light in a dark time.”

Claus With A Cause provides these families with food, clothes, and Christmas presents to help restore a sense of normalcy. The long-term goal is to raise funds for grief counseling and mental health support for children and families affected by suicide.

They’re just getting started. But the mission is clear: to change lives through love.

The “Yanta” Tattoo – A Christmas Memory Etched Forever

When asked what inspired his most recent tattoo, Kirk shares a moving story. For the past three years, he has donned the red suit as Santa Claus for a grassroots charity he founded called @clauswithacause. During that time, a dear friend’s son who struggles with speech delays, became like a grandson to him. The boy lovingly calls him “Yanta,” his way of saying Santa.

Last Christmas, Kirk had “Yanta” tattooed on his wrist. It’s not just ink. It’s love, legacy, and connection.

If Kirk’s Ink Could Speak…

It would speak volumes.

“My tattoos have been with me through everything, every high and low, every win and every heartbreak. They’re my memory, my therapy, my truth. My ink says: I am flawed. I am healing. I am real. And I’m still standing.”

Each design holds emotion, history, and honesty. Together, they tell the story of a man who has faced brokenness, but chooses healing. Who has known sorrow, but gives joy.

What Will He Do With the $25,000?

Kirk doesn’t want the prize money for himself.
He wants it for families in pain.

Each Christmas season, through Claus With A Cause, Kirk donates the money he earns as Santa to a family affected by parental suicide during the holidays. So far, he’s been able to raise around $1,000 to $2,000 per season, enough to help one family.

If he wins the contest, Kirk will donate $3,000 to eight families who’ve lost a parent.
The remaining $1,000 will be used to establish Claus With A Cause as an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, ensuring this mission of love and support continues to grow.

Kirk Rittenberry: A Man of Heart, Ink, and Purpose

What makes Kirk so extraordinary isn’t just his story.
It’s the way he shows up for others. The way he gives without asking.
Whether it’s through his Santa suit, his tattoos, or his words, Kirk makes people feel seen, valued, and loved.

He’s not asking for votes for recognition.
He’s asking for a chance to help more people.

How You Can Help

1. Vote for Kirk Rittenberry at InkedMag.com
Voting begins May 5th at 10 AM PDT

2. Follow and support @clauswithacause to see the magic in action.

3. Share his story with others who believe in tattoos that carry meaning, not just ink.

Because sometimes, the most powerful stories aren’t told in words… they’re told in ink.