The Weeknd has donated $350,000 in relief to Jamaica.
The donation comes after Hurricane Melissa devastated the island at the end of October. The disaster impacted six million people across the Caribbean islands, with Jamaica sustaining much of the damage. According to a report from Variety, the funds will come from The Weeknd’s XO Humanitarian Fund, and reach over 220,000 Jamaicans through the World Food Programme.
“We are grateful to The Weeknd for his generous support for WFP’s urgent relief efforts. His compassion will provide much needed comfort and resilience to Jamaicans as they navigate this crisis,” said Barron Segar, World Food Program USA President and CEO, in a statement. “When it comes to humanitarian disasters, WFP is among the world’s first responders. But our work is only possible through the generosity of our private sector donors and global partners.”
At the time of writing, WFP has reached 254,000 people with emergency food distributions across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti.
The Weeknd — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — launched his XO Humanitarian Fund in 2022 to support the World Food Programme’s efforts to combat the global hunger crisis. The bulk of the funds comes from Tesfaye’s critically-acclaimed After Hours Til Dawn Tour. Since its creation, the XO Humanitarian Fund has given more than $6.5 million to provide food and support to people facing hunger crises around the world. Previously, the XO Humanitarian donated $4.5 million toward WFP’s emergency response in Gaza and $2 million to support WFP’s emergency food assistance for women and children in Ethiopia. Earlier this year, the fund donated $1 million to support Los Angeles County firefighters and impacted residents.
The WFP is committed to mobilizing American policymakers, businesses, and individuals to advance the global movement to end hunger. Fans can also make a donation by visiting here.
