New year, same generosity; Diddy is a gift that keeps on giving!

BY JANIECE CAMPBELL

Nearly one week after gifting his mother a brand new Bentley and a $1 million check, millionaire mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs announced that he would provide financial relief for families in Miami that are struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A resident of Miami himself, the “I’ll Be Missing You” rapper chose to give back to a local organization, which will then pay rent for 175 households throughout the current public health crisis.

If you thought that was kind, that’s not all!

On the same day that Diddy announced the grant, he collaborated on a project with his own non-profit organization, the Sean Combs Foundation alongside Teens Exercising Extraordinary Success (T.E.E.S.) and music festival and nightlife organizer Michael Garner. Dressed in a clear face shield and black gloves, he personally visited Miami’s Overtown neighbourhood to distribute $50 supermarket gift cards as well as bags with essential hygiene products amongst community members. He was also joined by his children, handing out cash amid a crowd of hundreds.

This is not Diddy’s first clash with kindness at all.

For decades, the altruistic Bad Boy has performed numerous charitable acts, even earning the respect of Chicago Major Richard M. Daley who officially appointed October 13th, 2006 as “Diddy Day” in honour of his charity work. In 1995, he founded Daddy’s House Social Programs, an organization to help inner city youth with a variety of activities including tutoring, life skill classes and an annual summer camp. Later in 2005, along with fellow rapper Jay-Z, he pledged $1 million to support victims of Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, he donated clothing from his Sean John line to victims. From donating computers and books to schools, to eventually establishing a scholarship fund for students unable to pay their tuition, this well-endowed entrepreneur gives another meaning to being selfless.

Another non-necessary-but-needed gesture from the artist came around the same time as his benevolence, where he chose protecting the public over his anticipated end of the year affair. A few days before the new year, he took to Instagram to announce the cancellation of his annual, star-studded New Year’s Eve celebration in Miami. He shared the news via a post, writing: “In efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy… unfortunately, we are not having a NYE party this year! I hope everyone had a blessed holiday and wish you all the best for the new year.”

His random act of kindness is one of the first to carry over into the new year, and we’re excited to see what philanthropic acts Diddy will bring to 2021!