By Abigail Goldman

Published Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 | 4:26 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 2:14 p.m.

Gather 'round, children. Here is a beacon of benevolence from behind bars, a winter jail tale, a story of hope, strength and tax evasion:

Joe Francis, Girls Gone Wild magnate, has decided to donate 250 winter coats to Reno's homeless. This is a particularly special gesture, because Francis is currently incarcerated on charges of tax evasion with the very population he hopes to clothe. According to a press release issued this afternoon:

"Joe Francis discovered the urgent needs for winter coats when he met newly incarcerated homeless people in the Washoe County Jail..."

And in Francis' own words:

"My ten month legal nightmare has been one challenge after another, but seeing news reports over the holidays of homeless people who froze to death on the streets because they had no way to stay warm, and then meeting people who actually got themselves jailed in order to keep from freezing to death, broke my heart. This is a large challenge for all of us. Even from jail, I couldn’t sit idly by and do nothing.”

Our hearts are warm as your movies are cerebral, Joe.

The coats will go the Reno chapter of the Vietnam Veterans Association.