Alex Trebek had a long time running as host in the most-watched game night show, “Jeopardy!” When he died last November, he left dozens of clothing he had worn for the last 37 years in the show. Alex’s son, Matthew, decided to donate them to former inmates and homeless men who wanted a fresh start in life.
Alex Trebek
Alex, who died at the age of 80, passed away because of pancreatic cancer. But, he left a legacy of building a gentler and kinder society. He had supported multiple charities and programs dedicated to homeless people.
To honor his father’s request and values, Matthew donated Alex’s wardrobe from Jeopardy. It includes 25 polo shirts, 14 sweaters, 9 sport coats, 9 pairs of dress shoes, 15 belts, 2 parkas, and 3 pairs of dress slacks. He gave them to the Doe Fund program. The organization aims to provide services and opportunities to the homeless or who those have been in prison.
He said, “The Doe Fund made perfect sense since these are guys who are going on job interviews and need second chances. It would be an honor to the type of work that my Dad did throughout his life.”
The 30-year-old added, “This definitely aligned with his interests and sentiments and values. I think he would have thought it was a great idea.”
A fresh start for men
Men who had finished the program’s career-training class and prepared for job interviews will receive the suits.
John Powell, associate director of Doe Fund, believes the suit and ties from Alex Trebek gave the men a boost and validation. He said, “It’s a complete and total transformation.”
“It’s not just a nice suit. It’s a nice suit coming from Alex Trebek’s family, donated from Alex Trebek. Knowing it was someone they saw on television that they heard about for years, it’s a certain degree of validation.”
