Alex and Faye Spanos

Sharing the Wealth is more than the title of Alex G. Spanos’ autobiography. It’s a guiding philosophy of his life.

Over the years, Alex Spanos and his wife Faye have been major benefactors to youth, sports, medicine, the arts,and education. And they have committed $10 million to Sacramento State's Recreation, Wellness and Events Center, Arena and Stadium Complex – the largest single gift in the University’s history.

In recognition of their support, the Complex is being called the Alex G. Spanos Sports and Recreation Complex.

The Alex Spanos success story is one of determination. He began working at the age of eight in the family restaurant. At 21, Spanos turned a borrowed $800 into A.G. Spanos Agricultural Catering, which became the largest caterer to farm laborers in the United States. Later he focused his attention on real estate and in 1960 started the A.G. Spanos Companies. It is now the largest family-owned construction company in the country.

Spanos has said his mother repeatedly told him, "Kane kalo, na this kalo," Greek for "Do good, so that good comes your way." And the Stockton, Calif. native has been a generous benefactor to every community of which he has been a part.

In Stockton and San Luis Obispo, homes to his alma maters the University of the Pacific and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he's helped renovate a music center and theater, refurbish a stadium, and build residence halls and a sports complex. In San Diego, where he owns the NFL's Chargers, his Chargers Community Foundation has contributed more than $2 million to youth, education and sports programs. In Sacramento, where he received treatment for a heart condition, he gave $15 million to Mercy General Hospital.

Spanos was instrumental in bringing the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials to Sacramento State through his gift of nearly $1.5 million for a state-of-the-art track and numerous improvements to the stadium.

His generosity has earned him numerous awards including the Horatio Alger Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Gloria Swanson Humanitarian Award and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith’s National Distinguished Community Service Award. He and wife Faye received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Hellenic College/Holy Cross and Alex received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Cal Poly SLO.