Bills being found since May, 2013.
AB Wire
A ‘mystery philanthropist’ has been helping poor people in Salem, Oregon, since 2013 by hiding $100 bills in stores, markets, fairs, and festivals. People are surprised to get the bill when they go to stores.
According to a report in Statesman Journal, the philanthropist has distributed $50,000 in Salem area by hiding bills in everyday items in stores and markets. The bill may be found anywhere: in cereal boxes, baby strollers, food packets, even in napkins. Surprisingly, many times, the money directly reached those who were in need.
The incidents of surprise $100 bills were first reported in May 2013. The unknown man behind the surprise was named Benny by Statesman Journal that tracks all bill findings, mainly because Benjamin Franklin was on the bill. Later, the man started signing the bill as Benny.
Benny has used 26 stores, and eight events to hide his bill. The people who find the bills are nicknamed ‘Benny-ficiaries.’ The bill is helping people to pay their electricity bills, rent, medical bill, and sometimes a mother who struggles to purchase a toy for her child finds the surprising bill.
The efforts of the mystery philanthropist have created a generous spirit among people to help others by forwarding the bill. The Statesman Journal reported that more than half of the people who find the bill have transferred it to help others. They either pass it to a poor person or hand over the bill to a not-for-profit organization of their choice. A Daily Mail report said that 47 non-profit organizations have benefitted so far.
Some people chose to keep the bill as a memoir. But still, they forward the benefit to someone else. Even, children have set examples by buying school supplies for their classmates and groceries for a food bank.