The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has announced that two-time Grammy award-winning recording artiste Shaggy will perform at the Virtual Toronto Benefit Awards 2021, on Saturday, May 22.
Shaggy, born Orville Richard Burrell, from Kingston, Jamaica has sold over 30 million albums to date.
He has racked up no fewer than eight singles in the Billboard Hot 100, including two that went to number one, as well as seven albums on the Billboard 200, with four in the Top 40.
Shaggy is to perform at the virtual gala at 6 pm (Jamaica) or 7 pm (Eastern Caribbean).
A phenomenal philanthropist, especially for children, this year marks the dancehall reggae artiste’s second appearance at the awards.
In 2015, Shaggy received the Toronto Gala’s Luminary Award and closed the event with a surprise live performance of some of his biggest hits.
On that occasion, he raised CA$33,000 for the University’s scholarship fund. Following the Awards event, Shaggy partnered with The UWI on some outreach projects, including presenting a keynote in the Reggae Talks series, hosted by the Department of Literature in English.
The University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Awards supports the University’s Scholarship Fund, and the signature event honours leaders and organisations of Canadian and Caribbean heritage or those whose body of work has impacted the Caribbean region.
This year’s honourees include Dr GraçanMachel and Naomi Campbell (Luminary Award); Denham Jolly (G Raymond Chang Award); The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Chancellor’s Award); Wendy Beckles, Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Professor Kevin Fenton (Vice-Chancellor’s Award).
The UWI Toronto Benefit Awards, since its inception, has provided over 600 scholarships to students in financial need. This year’s appeal for scholarship funding is even more critical than ever.
The event, which is the largest fundraiser for The UWI, in Canada, due to the pandemic health and safety guidelines, the UWI Toronto Benefit Awards 2021 will be streamed online.
Registration to access and watch the gala celebration is free. To register for the 12th annual UWI Toronto Benefit Virtual Awards, log on to: http://www.uwitorontogala.org.
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