Blackley, a retired special education teacher, gave away $5 bills on a Winston Salem, North Carolina street corner.
He held a sign, pictured above, that said, "I have a job. I have a home. Could YOU use an extra $5?"
He started at 10 a.m., and by the time he was done Thursday afternoon, he had given away nearly $600.
"I wanted to do something cool on my birthday," he said.
Blackley started with $285, which was a birthday present from his wife.
After he gave all that away, his wife brought him more money, just as she had promised.
There were no strings attached.
"A lot of people have asked that take the money, 'What do I have to do?'" Blackley said. "I say, 'ya gotta take it out of my hand.'"
A Winston-Salem police officer approached Blackley, thinking that he was panhandling without a permit.
However, after the officer learned the money was actually being given away, Blackley was allowed to continue.
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