Who is this 'Dana' person?

I've been asked: "What is Dana?" and so I remember a friend of mine offering regular meditation practice in his house. He always had a box on the table labeled 'Dana' with a slot where people put their donation for the night. One day a newcomer said: "I'd like to know who this 'Dana' person is before I give any of my money."
So if you've been wondering who this 'Dana' person is....

Wikipedia defines Dana as:

Dāna (Sanskrit: दान dāna) is a Sanskrit and Pali term meaning "generosity" or "giving". In Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity. Ultimately, the practice culminates in one of the Perfections (paramitas): the Perfection of Giving (dana-paramita). This can be characterized by unattached and unconditional generosity, giving and letting go.

Giving leads to being reborn in happy states and material wealth. Alternatively, lack of giving leads to unhappy states and poverty.

The exquisite paradox in Buddhism is that the more we give - and the more we give without seeking something in return - the wealthier (in the broadest sense of the word) we will become. By giving we destroy those acquisitive impulses that ultimately lead to further suffering.

The Chanting Satsang we offer is about being together in the 'Buddha field' as Deva says. It is not about making money or receiving something in return. We love you to come and sing with us. The Dana you give is used to make those gatherings what they are - a meeting in Truth, chanting and sharing a cup of tea and some biscuits. All Dana is used for is for the 'ingredients of this meeting' :-)