Anonymous Donor

[Anchor Lead]

An anonymous philanthropist has been helping patients at a hospital in Korea. He donates money for treatment costs to those who tell him about their difficult situations via email. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

This college student surnamed Lee had to undergo surgery when he broke his leg two years ago. Raised in an orphanage, Lee could not afford the surgery expenses of around 1,300 U.S. dollars. But luckily, he was able to receive the treatment costs from an anonymous donor.

[Soundbite] College Student : "I thought I would just have to walk on crutches for several months, but thanks to him I was able to receive surgery."

The anonymous donor first sent his email address to the hospital in 2008, saying only that he wanted to help patients in need. The hospital staff named him "Daddy Long Legs" - after the character from the famous children's story. They started emailing him each time their patients needed financial help and received donations from him right away. Over the past eight years, 23 patients have received his help, including a disabled person with a brain disorder and a senior citizen with colon cancer who had no family to support him.

[Soundbite] Kim Rin-ah(KyungHee Univ. Hospital at Gangdong) : "We asked him how we should introduce him, and he said, "Just tell people that I am a good person.""

Unable to meet with their benefactor, the patients expressed their gratitude by emailing him. Recently, Daddy Long Legs sent another large donation of over 87,000 dollars to help the underprivileged. When asked by the production crew about the reason for his donations, Daddy Long Legs said only that he hopes that those who receive his help will get better soon and share with others.