Jeopardy! winner James Holzhauer just ended a monster run on the long-running game show. That wasn’t the end for Holzhauer though as he has used his winnings to make donations across America. He’s already made some sizeable donations in Las Vegas, including one for $10,000 to support early learning. Holzhauer continued his giving streak this week by donating to an Illinois cancer walk in the name of host Alex Trebek.
Trebek announced in March that he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Thankfully though, the longtime host of Jeopardy! announced only months later that he was “near remission.”
Holzhauer made the donation after a woman named Ann Zediker reached out to him. Zediker invited Holzhauer to a cancer walk in Naperville, Illinois, a town he actually once lived in. Though Holzhauer couldn’t make it in person, he did make a donation of $1109.14, which represents his daughter’s birthday. Holzhauer sent the donation with this short note attached: “For Alex Trebek and all the other survivors.”
Zediker spoke with CNN about the donation. “There was no expectation on my end,” she said. “I was just thrilled that he responded. I knew that Alex’s story had an impact on him, just like it has an impact on anyone who’s working with a family member who’s going through pancreatic cancer.”
Trebek has continued treatment and plans on being ready to host Jeopardy! when it returns in the Fall for its 36th season.
