The Weeknd has received the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award for 2022 in recognition of his humanitarian involvement.
The award is given annually to a Canadian musician, duet, or group “in honor of their social activity and generous support of humanitarian interests and causes,” according to a news statement from the organization. The Slaight Family Foundation will also donate $50,000 to The Weeknd’s preferred charity in addition to the prize.
“That this is a Canadian award sits deep with me,” the Grammy Award-winning singer said in a statement. “Allan and The Slaight Family Foundation are known across the country for their generous philanthropy, and it means a lot to be acknowledged, and is an honor to be recognized along with the legendary Canadian artists who received this award before me.”
Gary Slaight, president, and chief executive officer of the Slaight Family Foundation, also released a statement outlining the foundation’s selection of the “Starboy” vocalist.
“The global success of Abel ‘the Weeknd’ Tesfaye makes every Canadian proud,” Slaight said. “What Abel has done with his success is something that we can be doubly proud of–and this is to improve the lives of people in need, in Canada and around the world. His altruism, in a word, is exemplary.”
The Weeknd has donated more than $8.3 million to various causes over the past few years, including $50,000 to the St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Toronto, which he attended as a child, $100,000 to the Suubi Health Center, a maternity and children’s hospital in Uganda, significant sums to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the Equal Justice Initiative, and the United Nations World Food Programme, as well as funding a new Ethiopian studies program at the University of Toronto.
When he agreed to see a young cancer sufferer backstage during one of his performances in September, he realized her greatest wish.
The child’s mother tweeted that her daughter was battling illness and that she would do anything to meet her favorite musician. This is how the singer learned of the child’s dream.
“My daughter wants to meet her favorite artist @theweeknd and go to his concert,” the tweet read. “I want to make that happen for her, she deserves the best of the best. she’s kicking cancer’s butt and still being a light in this world. help me make it happen for her. #AbelMeetKatana.”
The Weeknd happily obliged and clips of the later interaction show the elated toddler presenting him with gifts she made including a cutout of the letter “A” as well as something for his dog. Before their warm embrace, as he headed to the stage, he thanked the young fan saying, “This is for my dog! Really? Thank you so much.”
