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A Mystery Man Is Hiding $100 Bills In Salem And It's Doing More Than Just Renewing Their Faith In Humanity

July 25, 2016

A mystery man known only as "Benny" has spent the last few years leaving surprise $100 bills around Salem, Oregon. His $100 bills have done more for local residents than just renew their faith in humanity. For some, it provides a financial boost when they need it most.

Salem-based newspaper the Statesman Journal has been tracking all reported "Benny Bills" (he signs his name to each one) and they currently total a staggering $50,000!

Here's a few the Statesman Journal reported:

"Emily Fagin found in a blanket at Bi-Mart helped pay for the new crib and changing table she and her husband found on sale for their unborn child."

"The one Jessica Guerrero found in a travel mug at Bi-Mart provided some security when she unexpectedly had to miss two weeks of work because of emergency gall bladder surgery."

"Brittany Medina, a 23-year-old mother of three, found one after opening a can of baby formula. It was right before Christmas, and the little boost was enough to help her buy presents."

Social media savvy residents are posting pictures of their Benny Bills on Twitter.

Benny’s most valuable gift, though, continues to be inspiring generosity in others. More than half of the people who recently have found $100 bills have paid it forward, reports the Statesman Journal.

One of the sweetest examples of paying it forward was by a 7-year-old girl who found a Benny Bill while buying a cookie at a baked goods booth at Salem Saturday Market. She used the money to take her great grandfather out to dinner at The Ram. She wanted to do something special for him because "he is sad because his wife died."

Benny is making a difference Salem by putting humanity back in the forefront. But just reading about this will hopefully inspire others to perform similar acts of kindness in cities around the world.