Madonna

I get excited every year for the Cannes Film Festival — everyone always dresses to the nines (or else they dress in something hideous, which is just as much fun), and, of course, the news starts trickling out about what films are must-sees. However, this year several celebrities gave me a new reason to love Cannes — George Clooney, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Natalie Portman, Mary J. Blige, Milla Jovovich, Harvey Weinstein, Kenneth Cole, and others got together at Cannes to raise over $10 million for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Sharon Stone, as amfAR’s global fundraising chairman, acted as conductor of the auction and started things off with a request for support in honor of her fiftieth birthday after starting with her own pledge of $100,000. She asked the room match her pledge, and over $2 million was raised in just 10 minutes. Additionally, Sharon auctioned off her own vintage Porche 911 Targa for $810,000.

Madonna did her part as well, auctioning off a a private performance of two songs for $560,000, as well as a diamond-encrusted alligator skin Chanel purse including her personal lip gloss, compact mirror, and blotting papers for $486,000.

But the item I’m most disappointed in missing is George Clooney’s — he auctioned off a kiss for $300,000. Next year, I’m totally going!

Photo courtesy of eonline.com

Madonna adopted her son, David, from an orphanage in Malawi (where his father left him after his mother died in childbirth), and while she gave him a better life, she wasn’t done helping the people of that country. Her plans to build a girls’ school in Malawi are moving forward, with a task force of four prominent Malawians already on board.

Madonna’s project is said to be on par with what Oprah Winfrey has done in South Africa. It will most definitely be a multi-million dollar project, but I don’t think any of us have any doubts as to whether Madge can foot the bill.

The pop superstar has been involved in other Malawian projects, as well. She produced and narrated a documentary called I Am Because We Are, highlighting the plight of several Malawian children whose mothers died of AIDS. The film was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Madonna said the documentary carried the message that “We are responsible for each other and that if we can help in any way, shape or form, we should.”

Regarding Madonna’s adoption of Malawian-born David Banda, the Malawian courts are expected to rule in her favor today.

Photo courtesy of dailymail.co.uk