He randomly hides the bills to be found at stores, markets,
fairs and festivals, surprising and delighting unsuspecting shoppers and
patrons.
When the first reports surfaced in May 2013, I christened
him with the nickname Benny because Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill.
Not long after, he began signing his bills.
Benny is brazen. He often frequents stores during peak
shopping times and high-profile events that draw thousands of people.
Apparently, that’s part of the fun for him.
To date, he has hidden more than $51,500 worth of $100 bills
in the Salem area, and that’s only what has been reported. I keep track of when
and where the bills are found, and if possible how they are used. He has left
them in 26 different stores, at eight different events, and in a handful of neighborhoods.
Those who find one all have a similar tale, about being
shocked when a $100 bill falls out of the packaging of something they just
purchased. Bills have been found in everything from breakfast cereals to frozen
entrees, and from mouse traps to feminine hygiene products. Sometimes they are
not discovered until days or weeks later when retrieving something out of the
pantry or cabinet.
Benny bills, usually neatly folded in fourths and signed on
the right edge front or back, have come to symbolize generosity and good will.
From them a new Salem slang has evolved.
- To get
Benny-ed is to find one of these $100 bills and be given hope or
inspiration.
- The
finders are Benny-ficiaries.
- Non-profits and causes are Benny-fitting.
They have helped people pay their electric bill, make their
rent, buy their prescription medication, and even provide them shelter for a
couple of nights. But the real magic of Benny has been the pay-it-forward
spirit he has inspired in the community.
Slightly more than half of those who find a $100 bill report
paying it forward, whether it be to their favorite non-profit or a stranger in
need. Some of the most heartwarming stories involve children. Instead of going
on a toy shopping spree, they decide to buy school supplies for their
classmates or groceries for the local food bank.
The bills are so cherished by some finders that they are
keeping them as mementos. They’re still paying it forward, but with their own
cash or check. People are posting them on refrigerators, displaying them on
bedside tables, carrying them in their purses and putting them in protective
sleeves.
It's a reminder, they say, to give and be like Benny.
