Heroes Of The Week: Anonymous Donors (As In Money, You Tramps)

Giving, in and of itself, is the reward. Charity is the gift that keeps on giving.

A Japanese police station paid tribute to an anonymous donor who has handed in envelopes full of cash to give to the needy every month for more than 33 years.

The police station in Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, received the first envelope in August 1974, which contained 1,000 yen, or nine dollars at the current rate. It did not bear a sender's name but enclosed a piece of paper only saying: "Please use this for the unprivileged people."

The envelopes kept arriving punctually every month with the enclosed money gradually increasing to 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen and eventually 8,000 yen. The station received the 400th envelope on Tuesday, taking the total amount donated to 1,744,000 yen, the police said, adding that the money had been given to the town's social welfare council.

Donors of time and money, both anonymous and known, are this week's Heroes of the Week.
*