Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo is giving back to his community, donating the $10,000 prize money from his CFL Most Outstanding Player Award.

Calvillo, fresh off a Grey Cup win, is giving the money to the Cedars Cancer Institute at the McGill University Health Centre.

His wife, Alexia Calvillo, was treated for B-Cell lymphoma cancer at the Royal Victoria Hospital, which is part of the MUHC.

While she was in remission, Calvillo had made a donation to renovate the hospital's family room. Now he's doing the same thing at the Montreal General Hospital.

"It was pretty much a no-brainer where we wanted to donate the money," Calvillo told a news confererence on Tuesday.

"Cedars was a big part in my wife's (fight) in terms of her cancer, and we know how important the family room was to her at the Royal Victoria Hospital."

Dr. Armen Aprikian, chief oncologist at the MUHC, tells CTV's Herb Luft that the money will definitely help patients.

"When people are happier, they tend to receive their treatment better," said Dr. Aprikian.

"It's important that we know that besides chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatment, emotional well being improves the outcomes of patients with cancer."

Renovations

The family room renovations are going to cost $100,000. A new bathroom, kitchen and other amenities will be installed.

The work should be completed by the spring.