Canadian music sensation The Weeknd, also known as Abel Tesfaye, has made a generous donation of $2.5 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund to support relief efforts in Gaza.
This substantial contribution is set to provide four million emergency meals and has been orchestrated in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The announcement, made on Friday (December 1), revealed that the donation will facilitate the delivery of 820 metric tons (approximately 1.8 million pounds) of food parcels, capable of sustaining over 173,000 Palestinians for a period of two weeks.
The WFP’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer, emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, describing the ongoing conflict as a “humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning.”
Fleischer acknowledged the critical role of donors and expressed gratitude for The Weeknd’s substantial contribution, stating: “We thank Abel for this valuable contribution towards the people of Palestine. We hope others will follow Abel’s example and support our efforts.”
The Weeknd, appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the WFP in 2021, has been actively involved in philanthropy, with nearly $2 million previously donated through his XO fund.
Amidst his philanthropic endeavors, The Weeknd has achieved remarkable success in his musical career.
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His ‘After Hours ’til Dawn’ tour recently made history as the highest-grossing tour by a Black artist in European history.
The tour encompassed 30 shows overseas, generating an impressive $158.1 million in revenue with over 1.6 million tickets sold. Notable sell-out performances in Nice, Bordeaux, and Madrid contributed to this remarkable achievement.
Beyond the musical realm, The Weeknd has made impactful contributions to local economies during his tour.
In Bogotá, Colombia, he collaborated with 35 local companies, creating 1,500 jobs to stimulate the economy. Earlier in the year, he broke attendance records at London Stadium and Wembley Stadium, showcasing the global fanbase he has cultivated over the years.