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Skid Row's Benevolent Father Dollar Bill Has Died
Father Maurice Chase, better known as Father Dollar Bill, has died. Chase, 92, was a fixture on Skid Row during Thanksgiving and handed out thousands of dollars, mostly in singles, to homeless and struggling people he encountered there.
Chase, a Catholic priest, has been handing out cash on Skid Row for 32 years.
Criticized by some for his generosity--he gave $15,000 out last year, including $20 and $100 bills to some of the most needy--he said his goal was to simply make sure Skid Row residents know they are not invisible. The money was part of a fund supported by wealthy Angelenos, including some celebrities.
Father Dollar Bill died Sunday night, surrounded by family, just days before the holiday he was most known for honoring with his generosity.
Chase hands out money to the homeless on Skid Row in 2008 in this video:
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