The Weeknd Makes A Sizeable Donation To The University of Toronto

Just because “only losers go to school” doesn’t mean The Weeknd couldn’t care any less about education. The high school dropout just made a sizeable donation to the University of Toronto after they reached out to the Canadian artist on a whim.

The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye to Ethiopian immigrants, donated $50,000 to the university in support of creating an Ethiopic Studies program. Tam Gebeyehu of the Bikila Awards organization said he had no idea Tesfaye was going to step up to the plate or do it so quickly. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs unbelievable,” Gebeyehu told Canadian paper The Star.. ÔÇ£He grew up in Toronto as an Ethiopian-Canadian, and now heÔÇÖs giving back to the community.ÔÇØ

The Star states The Weeknd’s donation came about when University of Toronto professor Michael Gervers challenged both the university and the Ethiopian community to match his own $50,000 pledge. Low on donations, the Bikila Awards organization, named after Ethiopian Olympic athlete Abebe Bikila, reached out to Abel based on their prior interactions, having awarded its Professional Excellence Award to the Habasha star in 2014. “Back then he was doing a lot of stuff, but was still a boy from Scarborough just rising to fame,” added Gebeyehu.

Along with The Weeknd’s donation, the program has raised over $170,000 so far. Money donated will go towards “supporting courses in Ethiopic Studies for undergraduate and graduate students, with a particular focus on Ge’ez language and the rich cultural and intellectual history of Ethiopia.”

1 – sharing our brilliant and ancient history of Ethiopia. proud to support the studies in our homie town through @UofT and @bikilaaward

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) August 6, 2016

2 Link to more info: https://t.co/dOzbJ3LVZp

Link to donate:https://t.co/QcK4zR5e2b

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) August 6, 2016

(Via The Star)

The Weeknd Makes A Sizeable Donation To The University of Toronto : UPROXX