Who doesn’t love a story about someone using their success to give back? After an incredible run on Jeopardy! where James Holzhauer won 32 games in a row, racking up an astonishing $2,462,216, he decided to do something truly remarkable. James donated a portion of his winnings to the Chicago-area pancreatic cancer walk, all in honor of Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. Talk about putting your money where your heart is!
James Holzhauer Shares His Thoughts on Alex Trebek
James, who’s only 35 years old, opened up exclusively to Closer Weekly at the NHL Awards on June 20. He expressed his deep respect for Alex, saying, “Alex is a true inspiration for continuing to show up to work while battling pancreatic cancer. It’s not easy, and I respect him so much for that. However, because of some quiz show scandals from a couple of generations ago, we can’t really have much of a relationship off-screen. But I’m sure I’ll shake his hand when I see him tonight. They don’t want us fraternizing too much, but I think Alex is doing incredible work. Not only is he persevering through his illness, but he’s also becoming a public face for a disease that takes too many lives.”
What Would You Do with $2 Million?
When asked about his plans for the $2 million he won, James had a humble response. “To be honest, I can’t think of much I need to spend that kind of money on. But what I do know is that it can help a lot more people than it can help me. That’s why I decided to donate some of it to such a meaningful cause.” This guy isn’t just smart with trivia; he’s wise with his priorities.
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James and Melissa: A Team Committed to Giving Back
James isn’t the only one with a heart of gold. He and his wife, Melissa, are both passionate about giving back to the community. “There are a few organizations that are really close to our hearts,” James explained. “One of them is Project 150 in Las Vegas, which does amazing work helping homeless teenagers in the area. It’s one of the toughest places to be homeless, especially during the summer. My wife and I are working with them to set up a scholarship and contribute to their general fund to help those kids who need it the most.”
James added, “I just came from a meeting with the Public Education Foundation, and they told me about some incredible work they’re doing in schools here. They’re identifying the areas with the greatest needs so we can help as many kids as possible. It’s inspiring to see how much impact we can make when we focus on where the help is needed most.” Truly, this guy is not just a trivia champion but a champion for humanity.
Alex Trebek’s Battle Against Pancreatic Cancer
James decided to make his donation in Alex’s name after being invited to the 2019 Naperville Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk on July 14 by a resident of his hometown. Although he couldn’t attend, he sent a check for $1,109.14, the birthdate of his young daughter, Natasha, according to CNN. What a thoughtful gesture!
On March 6, the beloved TV personality, then 78 years old, revealed his diagnosis with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. However, he recently shared some hopeful news: he’s “near remission.” “It’s mind-blowing,” Alex told People. “The doctors said they hadn’t seen this kind of positive result in their memory. Some of the tumors have already shrunk by more than 50 percent.” Talk about a fighter!
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