Pop superstar The Weeknd is being recognized for his support of charitable causes with an award from the Slaight Family Foundation.
The Toronto native is the recipient of this yearB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award.
In a statement, the foundation says The Weeknd, whose given name is Abel Tesfaye, will have a $50,000 donation made on his behalf to a charity of his choosing.
Among the causes Tesfaye has supported in recent years is a global hunger fund with the United Nations called the XO Humanitarian Fund, which says it has raised $5 million.
The Slaight Family Foundation also praised his support for the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation; Colin KaepernickB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s Know Your Rights Camp; and a University of Toronto fund for a course on GeB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ez, an ancient language of Ethiopia.
Previous recipients of the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award include Indigenous singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie,Toronto rock band Rush and the late singer-songwriter Gord Downie.
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