Alex Trebek “rounds up” previous uOttawa donation to an even $10M

By Mike Vlasveld

The University of Ottawa is getting a major financial boost, thanks to one very famous former student.

Alex Trebek visited his alma mater back in October, during homecoming weekend, and donated 1.2-million to the institution.

This week, the Jeopardy! host said he decided to “round up the number” and made an additional donation of $8.8-million, bringing his total to an even $10-million.

The school says half of Trebek's latest gift will go to his Alex Trebek Innovation and Challenge Fund, while the other half will support his Distinguished Lecture Series. 

The Alex Trebek Innovation and Challenge Fund finances innovative, student-led projects, which aim to affect positive social change and a healthy lifestyles. 

Over the years, 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's generosity, but also for his friendship,” said Jacques Fremont, University of Ottawa President and Vice-Chancellor. “His new gift will benefit more students, and that is at the heart of our mission.”

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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