This famous alumnus has donated $10 M to his alma mater: Who is Alex Trebek?
Exactly one month after his most recent visit on campus for Homecoming weekend and a generous $1.2 M gift, philanthropist and Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek decided to ‘round up the number’ and made an additional donation to the University of Ottawa, raising his financial commitment to $10 million dollars.
Half of Mr. Trebek’s latest gift will go to his Alex Trebek Leadership Award, and the other half to support his Distinguished Lecture Series.
The Alex Trebek Leadership Award finances innovative student-led projects whose aim is to affect positive social change and a healthy and productive lifestyle.
Over the years, Mr. Trebek’s gifts have led to the inauguration of the Alex Trebek Alumni Hall and to the creation of the Alex Trebek Distinguished Lecture Series in 2015. Two years later, in 2017, his $5 million endowment gave uOttawa the opportunity to establish the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue.
“We are extremely grateful for Alex’ generosity, but also for his friendship,” said Jacques Frémont, University of Ottawa President and Vice-Chancellor. “His new gift will benefit more students, and that is at the heart of our mission.”
Mr. Trebek earned a degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa before embarking on a career in broadcasting, covering national news and special events for radio and television. With the growing popularity of game shows, he eventually segued into the role of host of Jeopardy! and quickly became a pop culture icon. In 1996, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa and in 1998, he received the Meritas Tabaret Award for Alumni Achievement, the top award bestowed on alumni by the University.
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