The Weeknd donates $500K to support Scarborough frontline hospital workers

Jun 29 2020, 1:37 pm

Scarborough’s very own, The Weeknd has donated $500,000 to the Scarborough Health Network (SHN) in support of COVID-19 relief efforts through the sales of his line of XO face masks.

The donation from the multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter, and record producer Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is a gift to the health network’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund.

“I was raised in Scarborough and felt it was important to give back to the community that raised me during the hard times of this pandemic,” said Tesfaye, in a release.

According to the SHN, since the outset of the pandemic, the Grammy Award-winning Scarborough native has been raising awareness and support for many charities, including their foundation.

All of the proceeds from sales of The Weeknd’s XO face masks will be donated to coronavirus relief, with the artist matching every dollar raised.

XO mask (The Weeknd Shop)

“Our vibrant and diverse community represents the best of Canada, and we are fortunate to have ambassadors like The Weeknd in our corner,” said Elizabeth Buller, president and CEO of SHN.

“This gift will help our community hospitals continue to deliver exceptional care for the people of Scarborough in the wake of COVID-19, and demonstrates to our courageous staff and physicians that their critical work does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.”

SHN’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund was established to support frontline staff and doctors by addressing urgent and changing equipment needs. This includes equipment such as ventilators, ICU beds, vital signs, and ECG monitors, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE), health and wellness support for frontline workers, and other urgent needs.

More than 3,500 community donors have contributed to the fund to date.

“Throughout the pandemic, SHN Foundation has worked to inspire the generosity that will support our courageous frontline staff in their work,” said Alicia Vandermeer, president and CEO of the SHN Foundation. “Thanks to The Weeknd’s phenomenal support for our hospitals, and that of thousands of donors over the past several months, we are ensuring that our health care teams have everything they need to safely treat all of our patients.”

DH Toronto StaffDH Toronto Staff

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