CBS News has a heart warming story about a man in Canton, Ohio who helped others at the depths of the Great Depression in 1933. Ted Gup's 80 year-old mother handed him a suitcase labeled "Memoirs" filled with letters dated the same week in December 1933, all addressed to someone named Mr. B. Virdot. Rita Braver tells has the story of a mysterious benefactor who in the Great Depression, sent gifts to those in need.
There story has a bit of a genealogy connection as well, as Ted Gup found many descendants of those who benefited from his grandfather's generosity.
You can watch this great video at http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7096732n&tag=related;photovideo
My thanks to Laura Prescott for telling me about this story.
