People: Drake’s “Degrassi” Costar Andrea Lewis Among Women Gifted $50K by Rapper (2026)

Source: People.com
Author: Niya Doyle
Published: August 7, 2026
Document Type: News Feature Article
Source Link: View original article (People.com)

This Toronto native rapper gives back to his city. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, Drake reportedly handed out more than $1 million in cash and luxury vehicles at his annual “Strong Women, Stronger Drinks” event, held at the Casa Loma Mansion in Toronto. The guest list was invite-only and included women entrepreneurs and influencers who were celebrated for “grinding or ascending to the moon.”

Among the attendees was Drake’s former Degrassi: The Next Generation costar Andrea Lewis, who was one of the lucky few to win a $50,000 cash prize. “It’s been a real blessing,” said Lewis, 40, in a statement. “We’ve seen each other grow up and I feel very lucky to have a friend like him and that no matter where we are in the world or our personal journeys we always manage to stay connected.”

Lewis, who played Hazel Aden—the on-screen girlfriend of Jimmy Brooks (Drake)—beginning in 2003, added that the cash gift was “very unexpected.” She plans to reinvest the money back into her creative projects and her production team at Jungle Wild Productions. Since her time on Degrassi, Lewis has established herself as a prolific producer, notably behind the Netflix docuseries The Black Beauty Effect.

The event was reportedly inspired by a networking event called “What Women Want” that the rapper attended back in 2008. In addition to the $50,000 and $100,000 cash prizes distributed throughout the evening, the event featured raffles for BMWs, Mercedes-Benz G-Class cars, and Birkin bags.

Archival Note: This 2026 report documents the enduring real-life friendship between Aubrey Graham (Drake) and Andrea Lewis. Decades after their characters Hazel and Jimmy were a staple couple of Degrassi: The Next Generation, the pair remains connected, with Graham utilizing his success to invest in Lewis’s independent production ventures.