History Main / AnonymousBenefactor

* A ChristmasEpisode of ''[[{{MASH}} M*A*S*H]]'' has [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Charles Winchester]] as the Anonymous Benefactor, carrying on a Family Tradition from back in Boston. They'd leave a Christmas feast for some poor family at their doorstep. In Korea Charles left candy at the orphanage, which the head of the orphanage subsequently sold on the black market. Charles discovered this and confronted him; he said he traded it for blankets, etc., which the orphans ''really'' needed, much moreso than candy. Charles realized that was the point of his tradition, to help ease the suffering. However, the rest of the unit didn't know about the tradition, and treated Charles like a greedy Scrooge since they were unaware he was the Anonymous Benefactor, or even that there was one.

* J. Jonah Jameson is a notorious skinflint, obnoxious boss, and all around JerkAss to Peter Parker (and worse to his alter-ego Spider-Man). But when Peter was accused of murder Jameson made sure he got the best defense attorney money could by - on the condition that Peter never find out who was paying the bills. He also secretly bankrolled the alternative newspaper ''Front Line'' during the Civil War, despite it competing directly with the ''Daily Bugle''.

* J. Jonah Jameson is a notorious skinflint, obnoxious boss, and all around JerkAss to Peter Parker (and worse to his alter-ego Spider-Man). But when Peter was accused of murder Jameson made sure he got the best defense attorney money could by - on the condition that Peter never find out who was paying the bills.

* In ''HarryPotter'', Harry twice receives a broomstick from an anonymous benefactor. [=McGonagall=] in the first book and later Sirius Black sends him one.
** Also in ''HarryPotter'', don't forget the Invisibility Cloak which was revealed ''much'' later to be given to Harry by [[spoiler: Dumbledore.]]
** And then there was Barty Crouch, who helped Harry win the Triwizard cup by proxy, giving his allies help. Of course, he had less than benevolent motives.

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** In the ChristmasEpisode of ''{{Glee}}'' Season 2, the person who gives Artie the Re-Walk exoskeleton - thus sort-of fulfilling Brittany's Christmas wish that he be able to walk again - is not identified, but is strongly implied by the direction to be Coach Beiste.

Method of delivery may vary, but [[ItWasAGift this gift]] is the hallmark of the AnonymousBenefactor, someone whose "altruistic" motives and identity are a mystery. Usually it's someone who knows her (or him) and wants to help her while maintaining anonimity. This may be because they: would [[HiddenHeartOfGold rather not lose]] their JerkAss reputation by [[PetTheDog revealing their good nature]], want to avoid breaking some stuffy officious rule by showing favoritism, or to avoid getting caught by the authorities if they're a fugitive.

* J. Jonah Jameson is a notorious skinflint, obnoxious boss, and all around JerkAss to Peter Parker (and worse to his alter-ego Spider-Man). But when Peter was accused of murder Jameson made sure he got the best defense attorney money could by - on the condition that Peter never find out.

** It seems to mainly be a case of Hayate not referring to him by name when she mentions him to Signum in Episode 6, as she specifically asks Shamal to send her package to [[spoiler:"Graham-oji-san"]] in the last episode of A's, and mentions him being responsible for raising her in Episode 13 of StrikerS, which would suggest she knows her benefactor's name.

See also HelpYourSelfInTheFuture and UnexpectedInheritance.

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* A ChristmasEpisode of ''[[{{MASH}} M*A*S*H]]'' has Charles Winchester as the Anonymous Benefactor, carrying on a Family Tradition from back in Boston. They'd leave a Christmas feast for some poor family at their doorstep. In Korea Charles left candy at the orphanage, which the head of the orphanage subsequently sold on the black market. Charles discovered this and confronted him; he said he traded it for blankets, etc., which the orphans ''really'' needed, much moreso than candy. Charles realized that was the point of his tradition, to help ease the suffering. However, the rest of the unit didn't know about the tradition, and treated Charles like a greedy Scrooge since they were unaware he was the Anonymous Benefactor, or even that there was one.

* In MaiOtome, Sergay Wang supports Arika while she is at school without her knowing who he truly is. [[spoiler:When she and Nina find out he was her benefactor all along in the middle of Nagi's attack, this sets the stage for Nina's FaceHeelTurn]].

* In DannyPhantom, Valerie's life is ruined after ghosts ruin her father's laboratory. As she pines for a way to destroy all of ghost-kind in revenge, a mysterious box from the [[SdrawkcabName DALV]] Corporation grants her a high-tech suit and HoverBoard, both loaded to the gills with weaponry, so she can do just that. She doesn't recognize the DALV Corporation at all, but she's more than happy to accept their gifts.

* Villain example. In TheSpectacularSpiderMan, Kraven the Hunter recieves anonymous tips about Spider-man, convincing him that Spidey is the only WorthyOpponent he'll ever find and that he should hunt him. It turns out this was all part of the Master Planner [[spoiler: aka Doc Ock's]] plan to recruit Kraven for his new Sinister Six.
* In DannyPhantom, Valerie's life is ruined after ghosts ruin her father's laboratory. As she pines for a way to destroy all of ghost-kind in revenge, a mysterious box from the [[SdrawkcabName DALV]] Corporation grants her a high-tech suit and hoverboard, both loaded to the gills with weaponry, so she can do just that. She doesn't recognize the DALV Corporation at all, but she's more than happy to accept their gifts.

* The G-Man and his Employers from Half Life could be counted, seeing as how he is pulling the strings behind pretty much everything.

See also HelpYourSelfInTheFuture.

* ''A Little Princess'' has one for the main character.

Oh, woe is ThePollyanna! Her humble aspirations are practically a {{Tragic Dream}} because she's poor / an orphan / [[TheWoobie meant to suffer]] at [[TheChewToy the whims of the cosmos.]] But what's this? She wakes up one morning to discover the exact thing she wanted / needed at the foot of her bed!

* On ''{{MASH}}'' Charles was the Anonymous Benefactor, carrying on a Family Tradition from back in Boston. They'd leave a Christmas feast for some poor family at their doorstep. In Korea Charles left candy at the orphanage, which the head of the orphanage sold on the black market. Charles discovered this and confronted him; he said he traded it for blankets, etc., which the orphans ''really'' needed, much moreso than candy. Charles realized that was the point of his tradition, to help ease the suffering. However, the rest of the unit didn't know about the tradition, and treated Charles like a greedy Scrooge since they were unaware he was the AnonymousBenefactor, or even that there was one.
* A ChristmasEpisode of ''TheJeffersons'' had George doing this for the family that lived in the same crummy apartment he grew up in.