Alex Trebek Just Surprised a Homeless Shelter with a Huge Donation

Photo credit: Eric McCandless - Getty Images
Photo credit: Eric McCandless - Getty Images

From Oprah Magazine

  • Jeopardy! hostAlex Trebek made a $100,000 donation to a California homeless organization.

  • The president of Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission shared that Trebek had asked for a tour of their new L.A. shelter.

  • Trebek even invited the organization's head to the Jeopardy! set.


Alex Trebek is living with a serious cancer prognosis, but that isn't stopping him from reaching out to help others. The longtime Jeopardy! host recently surprised an L.A.-area homeless organization with a big donation, in an inspiring act of charity.

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission is a California nonprofit that offers a variety of programs providing assistance to the homeless, as well as offering shelter for unhoused families. The organization's president and CEO, Ken Craft, shared the story of Trebek's donation on Hope of the Valley's Instagram account.

"Recently I was sitting in my office and I received a phone call from Alex Trebek. He said he would like a tour of our new shelter being built," Craft wrote. He showed Trebek around the new facility, located in L.A.'s North Hollywood neighborhood, and their navigation center (a different housing experience than the traditional shelter model).

Evidently, Trebek appreciated what Hope of the Valley had built. "Two weeks after that, he asked if I would come to his house," Craft continued. "I went to his house and he said he wants to contribute to the homeless crisis and he handed me a check for $100,000."

When Craft asked for a picture with the game show legend, he wrote that Trebek's response was "you'll have to come to Jeopardy!." So Craft and his wife did visit the set to snap a photo behind one of the contestant podiums.


Together, Trebek and his wife of 29 years, Jean, have donated to a wide variety of causes through their Alex and Jean Trebek Family Foundation—and Craft is ecstatic that his organization is among the recipients. "What an incredibly kind, gracious and generous man. We continue to pray for his health and healing. Thank you Alex and Jean Trebek!"


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