Legendary Canadian songwriter and producer David Foster is set to receive the 2019 Humanitarian Award at this year’s Juno Awards in recognition of his years of philanthropic work.

The Junos notes the award “recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist or industry leader whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and/or whose impact can be felt worldwide” and that “recipients must show exemplary dedication to social, environmental and humanitarian causes.”

Foster, 69, is known to support hundreds of charities and his David Foster Foundation, established in 1986 to help children requiring medical transplants, has reportedly “helped over 1,100 families with children in need and provided millions of dollars in financial support.”

In a statement, Foster said, “It is with great honour that I accept the 2019 Humanitarian Award. I created the David Foster Foundation in 1986 after meeting a young girl from my hometown who was awaiting a liver transplant. The experience had a profound impact on me, and that’s how the Foundation was born. I am fortunate to be able to support many charities and organizations in need, either with my time or through donations, and it has become one of my life’s passions. The gift of music has brought me many rewards, and what better way to pay tribute to those gifts than to pay it forward. Giving back is not just a responsibility, it’s a necessity.”

The producer, who’s worked with, and penned tunes for, everyone from Celine Dion to Barbra Streisand to Michael Jackson, Andrea Bocelli and Whitney Houston, among many others, previously earned six Juno Awards along with 16 Grammys, a Golden Globe and Emmy, three Oscar nominations and various Canadian and American Songwriters Halls of Fame honours.