Mr. Mathewson, former President and CEO of International Game Technology (IGT), the world leader in gaming machine design and production, currently serves as Chairman Emeritus to both IGT and the American Gaming Association. In 1997, he was inducted into the American Gaming Associations Hall of Fame. However, it is for his legendary philanthropic endeavors that we proudly honor Charles N. Mathewson as the 2011 Governor's Philanthropist of the Year.

The visionary generosity of Mr. Mathewson has benefited countless lives and touched nearly every corner of the state of Nevada. An inaugural founder of the Nevada Cancer Institute, Mr. Mathewson's gift of $5 million, with an additional $1 million from IGT, has been instrumental in funding lifesaving programs. The battle against cancer has also been greatly aided by Mr. Mathewson's generous support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation with longtime friend, Mike Milken. A passionate proponent of education, Mr. Mathewson and IGT's combined gift of $10 million helped create the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, one of the most technologically advanced libraries in the country, at the University of Nevada, Reno. Another educational endeavor dear to Mr. Mathewson, and which he supports strongly, is The Andre Agassi Charter School in west Las Vegas which is graduating superbly prepared college bound students who would perhaps never have made the grade in any other way. Mr. Mathewson's generosity is extraordinarily extensive. But the list of his favorite causes would not be complete without mention of Mr. Mathewson's passion for Larry Ruvo's Keep Memory Alive organization centering on research and treatments for neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.