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BY KEVIN SAWYER – For the last three years, someone known only as “Benny” has been hiding $100 bills all over Salem, Oregon. As of right now, over $50,500 worth of them have been found by grateful people. The money is hidden at certain events and at certain stores in the area and even ends up in certain products like cereal boxes on store shelves.

And, of course, the thunder stealers came out of the proverbial woodwork to take credit for the philanthropy. So, to further prevent this, “Benny” started signing the bills. A friend or two of his actually went public and confirmed that the signature was that of their friend, “Benny”. His friends told the local media that it wasn’t about him and they refuse to say who he is. It was about thinking about helping others and “Benny” hopes that others will be inspired to help people too.

It is widely believed that “Benny” is not his real name and he just signed that name in honor of Benjamin Franklin who adorns the $100 bill. A local newspaper reporter has been hot on “Benny’s” trail for some time now. Her name is Capy Lynn and she says that the money has shown up at 26 different stores and in at least eight events in the Salem area. The money has even turned up in some neighborhoods. Lynn says that all of the bills just seem to end up in the hands of people that really need the extra $100.

The majority of people who have found the bills have bought much needed medicine, paid bills that were far behind and even used them to get off the streets for a night at a local motel. He has also donated money to the local food banks as well as the local pet therapy organization. The Salem slang says that people who have received “Benny’s ” generosity are known as “Benny-ficiaries”.

A tale was told of a young Salem mother who was struggling alone with three very young children. She returned from the store one day and found one of “Benny’s” $100 bills in the baby formula package she had bought. She began to cry. It was a couple of weeks before Christmas and now she had the money to get some presents for her children.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Salem Statesman Journal