BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Dozens of people across Buffalo received an early Christmas present Saturday. Awesome Buffalo, a local group, handed out 100 envelopes with $10 bills and suggestions on how to be awesome.

"This is the first time it is happening in Buffalo. It started in Liverpool in the UK. So there are people all over the world doing this and chapters of the Awesome foundation in England, Scotland, Canada, here in the United States and Brazil too," said Jessica Trace, Awesome Buffalo Dean.

Nancy Acri, a Philadelphia resident in town for a wedding, said, "I just received $10 for Awesome Buffalo to pay it forward or do something really awesome. I have no idea what I'm going to do yet, but it has to be awesome right?"

Awesome Buffalo had 20 trustees who contributed money for the cause.

"Maybe they're having a rough day. Maybe the holidays are tough for them. And this will hopefully help them to do something that's a little more joyful and give them some encouragement in the season," said Trace. She added, "We want people to really think about how they can do something awesome for the community."