softball fields, and a track at Rice Lake High School in his hometown. Friess also gained fame when news of his 70th birthday party spread. At the lavish event he announced he would give one charity nominated by his guests $70,000. He surprised his guests by giving each of their favorite charities $70,000, totaling over $7 million. In addition, Friess was the primary donor to a Classical Christian school, Jackson Hole Classical Academy, located in Jackson, Wyoming. Friess won a number of awards for his religious work, including the 2012 Horatio Alger Award from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Canterbury Medal from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the Adam Smith Award from Hillsdale College the Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award from the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation the David R. Jones Award for Leadership in Philanthropy and a Medal of Distinction from the University of Delaware. According to his website, Friess began in 2016 to support Rachel's Challenge, a non-profit organization started in the name of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre, by matching all donations up to $100,000. Following the 2018 Parkland shooting, in a USA Today op-ed, Friess issued a $2.5 million challenge grant to groups like Sandy Hook Promise and Rachel's Challenge. Later life Friess was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a bone marrow cancer, in September 2020. He died on May 27, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 81. Electoral history References External links National Christian Foundation Profile: Foster Friess Don't Fence Him In: Foster Friess explains his individualistic approach to managing the Brandywine fund. CNN Money, July 1, 2001 Spot growth stocks – but at the right price MSN Money, accessed May 27, 2008 1940 births 2021 deaths 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesspeople American Christians American financial businesspeople Candidates in the 2018 United States elections Intelligent design advocates Military personnel from Wisconsin People from Rice Lake, Wisconsin Wisconsin Republicans Wisconsin School of Business alumni Wyoming Republicans