Give Away $20K in a Day

“Ding-dong Ding-dong … Ding-dong DING-Dong!” The Westminster chimes from the front doorbell announced the delivery driver at my door. “Package for Mary. Please sign here.”

I scribbled a mark that could be something that sort of resembled my signature on the package scanner and stepped back inside. I tore the seal of the package and pulled out two bands of one hundred $100 bills, a little black notebook, and a letter. I sat down, slack-jawed and dumbfounded. Who is sending $20,000 cash, why are they sending it, and why are they sending it to me?

I flipped the money with my thumb. The bills looked, felt and smelled real. I opened the notebbok and read a curious list:

• Person wondering where money will come from to pay a bill

• A newlywed

• Someone wearing a sports cap

• White-haired person dining alone

And a few more random characteristics. Is this some sort of hit-list? What is going on? The letter! Perhaps the letter will connect the dots of this puzzle …

Hello Mary,

You do not know me. You have been brought to my attention by your mentors and colleagues to whom you have been proven trustworthy. Because these people also esteem me with the highest regard, you can trust me as well. Local authorities are very aware of who I am and what I do. Please be assured I am not asking you to do anything in this assignment that is illegal or unethical.

You may feel overwhelmed at the reality of $20,000 cash arriving quite unexpectedly at your doorstep. I must explain that this money is not for your personal use. I have chosen you, Mary, as my agent for performing random acts of generosity. Being as I am providing the funds for this assignment, I have a set of criteria that must be met. My money, my rules.

• You have one day to distribute the entire $20,000.

• The recipient must fit at least one characteristic on the list in the black notebook in this package.

• Each recipient must be a person who is a stranger to you and has had no prior encounter or connection to you or someone you know.

• You cannot give the money to someone representing an organization (ie, dropping the gift in a Salvation Army bucket or giving to someone on behalf of their organization).

• You may not give the gift as tip for services rendered or expected.

• You must give the gift anonymously, with no immediate means of the recipient contacting you.

• The money must be given $5,000.00 to each recipient in one lump sum of cash.

• A recipient can only receive one gift. For example, a white-haired man wearing a baseball cap who is eating alone can only receive one gift of $5,000.

After you have distributed the fourth gift of $5,000, Mary, you will contact our mutual dear friend Robert Simons, who will in turn contact me to arrange a time and place where I will reveal my identity to you. At that time you will be presented with a reward worth far more than my $20,000 you are giving away.

Mary, you are a woman of honesty and integrity. To whom much is given, much is required. When viewed through the lens of eternity, this task is really not asking much. But I promise you the reward is great.

Kindest regards,

And that was all, no signature or anything else.

I called Robert. Right away he knew the call was about the package. “I’m a bit surprised he sent it so soon.” he said. “I can’t answer any questions or offer guidance except to say that you can fully trust this man, and you have all you need. I won’t be able to talk with you until your assignment is complete.”

I pour myself a glass of water and take a drink. Let me wrap my mind around this. I find four people from a weird list in a black notebook, walk up to them and just give each of them $5,000 cash, from someone I don’t know, who basically dared me to give away his money. The reason whoever he is knows I won’t keep it for myself is because my integrity will forbid me to do so. To cement the deal, one of my dearest, closest friends is in on it to hold me accountable. I reread the letter and studied the list again. I separated the money into four 6” x 9” padded envelopes and placed them in my tote bag. Call me crazy, but I’m doing this!

My “do it today” list included several errands. I admit, adding four entries of “give away someone else’s $5K” was a bit surreal. My first stop was to the veterinarian to pick up anti-seizure medication for my lap-dog Labrador retriever. As I was entering the office, a woman who appeared to be in her forties was leaving, carrying an empty leash. Her eye makeup was smeared from tears.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to follow her to her car. “Excuse me, but something tells me I should give this to you.” She stopped long enough for me to place the first padded envelope in her hands. She gave me a “what’s this?” look. “It’s ok,” I told her. “Open it. It’s to help you out.”

The woman peered at the contents of the envelope. Tears again flooded her eyes, this time with gratitude that comes from receiving such an act of kindness. I turned back in to the veterinary office, picked up the doggie drugs and returned to my car before she could refuse the gift. I saw her on the phone, probably telling someone about the grace and compassion from a complete stranger.

A person who did not know where money would come from to pay an unexpected bill. Cross Envelope #1 off my list! That wasn’t so hard.

My next errand was to drop off clothes at the dry cleaners. The shop owner was finishing up with a very pretty 20-something. “Here is your gown, preserved for your future daughter. Again, congratulations!”

As I reached in my bag for Envelope #2, I said to her, “Oh, you’re a newlywed?”

“Yes, we had our wedding at a winery just outside of Napa. It was beautiful!”

“Please, I want you and your husband to have this as a gift as you begin your new life together. It’s not much. Open it at home, together. No strings attached. Someone was kind to me when I was a young bride. I am only paying it forward.”

I got th e “okaaayyyy… who are you?...” look of reluctance from her as she thanked me and went on her way. Envelope #2, gone!

My favorite coffee house next door seemed to be inviting me for an iced coffee. On the patio was a man with several faded tattoos on his arms. He had the appearance of someone who might have been in and out of trouble in his younger days and turned his life around. I commented about his hat. “LA Lakers! They had quite a season this year!”

“Yeah, the Lakers. They’re cool. I got to know some of them off-court at a community event. I really like that they give back.”

“I like to help people give back, so I’m giving this to you. You can use it how you wish, with no expectations and no strings attached. If you question it, you have to give it back to me. Deal?” I placed the envelope on his table. His smile in that moment could light a starless sky. Continuing on my way, I thought, “That was kind of fun!” Three down, one to go.

It wasn’t long before I finished with my errands. I stopped at a diner I’d been wanting to try out for a late lunch. And wouldn’t you know it, a white-haired man, party of one, had just been handed his check. I approached his table. “Excuse me. I was given a challenge to give away a sum of money. Please do not ask me to explain. You probably wouldn’t believe me anyway. But I would like you to have this.”

He gave a bit of a sneer. “With all due respect, ma’am, I don’t want your money.”

“Please sir, take it. I have no expectations, and there are no strings attached.”

“I said no thank you.”

Who refuses free money? “I want you to have it. If you do not wish to accept, you are free to give it to someone else.” I left the final envelope on his table. He took his ticket to the cashier, leaving his gift behind.

As the bus boy cleared the table he called out, “Hey George, you forgot something!”

George waved back curmudgeonly. “Eah, you all can fight over it, Stan. It’s your tip.”

Stan muttered, “Old George never leaves a tip.” He picked up the padded envelope and peered inside. His eyes grew wide as the plates in the dishpan. “What. The. … There must be $5,000 in here!”

I glanced at my watch and got up from my table. “I’m sorry, I have to leave. I honestly thought I had more time. I truly do apologize.” I rushed to my car, nearly bumped my head as I got in, and drove away. And such was the fate of Envelope #4.

There was a park around the corner from the diner. I pulled over and texted Robert. “Mission Accomplished.”

The reply was immediate. “Congratulations! Meet us at the food court of the Music Center tomorrow. 3:00.”

When I arrived Robert was waiting at a table. He took a sip from his drink. “So tell me about your day. Tell me about what you did with the $20,000.”

There was so much to tell! The surprise and disbelief that I was chosen for this. How I was more aware of people around me who I would have typically not given a second glance. The gratitude people showed for my kindness. How I wished I had time to talk with the recipients to know them more. That the assignment had been kind of fun. How it felt liberating to give. And the hurt and disappointment I felt when a free gift was refused.

At that point a white-haired man arrived. George? Old George who never tips George? After Robert formally introduced us I asked George why he refused the money. “In case you are wondering, I ‘never tip’ at the diner because I am a silent financial partner. I see to it the staff is generously compensated with frequent bonuses and perks for what they do. I had to refuse because I had the means to reach you through Robert. I would have broken my own rule.”

George continued. “You have proven yourself worthy, Mary. I want to offer you a position at my foundation. You will receive a monthly salary of $75,000, of which you will give of $25,000 in the same manner you did today, in increments you deem worthy.” My head was swimming! George answered my initial questions and objections. At the end of the conversation I came to a decision.

And that is how I became the Director of Generosity for the Old George Foundation.