SYLVANIA, Ohio — Inspired by millionaire Jason Buzi who has been hiding envelopes in major U.S. cities stuffed with $100 for strangers to find, one credit union is doing something similar in a few small towns that have been battered by the recession.
On June 25, Great Lakes Credit Union began hiding $50 every day and offering clues to where the cash is hidden, just like Buzi's "Hidden Cash" scavenger hunt.
"We saw how the millionaire made an impact in big cities, so we wanted to see what effect we could have in our own small towns here," said CEO David Seeger. "This area is hurting and needs some good news — 27% of the people in the Toledo area are at the poverty level. People here are so used to hearing bad news. We wanted to bring some excitement and help people."
Each day during the campaign, which ran through July 9, GLCU hid $50 somewhere in the Toledo area — which includes Perrysburg and Sylvania—and gave clues to the whereabouts of the cash. When people "Like" GLCU on its Facebook page or follow the CU on Twitter, they received hints to where the money is.
People who found the cash were asked to take a photo of themselves with the money and upload the shot to Twitter and Facebook.
GLCU, also hid two keys in two different locations that unlock a safety deposit box at the credit union. The first person to find a key and show up at the credit union gets to unlock the box and collect what is inside.
"That is a secret," said Seeger, about the content of the safety deposit box. "People will just have to wait to find out what we have in store."
Most of the people who have found the cash have been non-members, which is fine by the credit union. "We want to help everyone, this event is for all of the people in the Toledo area."
It's also helping the $29 million credit union, which has picked up a great deal of local TV and print coverage.
"This has been well received by the community," said Seeger. "We already have good name recognition and the giveaway is enhancing that. People are stopping by and saying, 'Oh yeah, you are the credit union that's giving away all that money."
