On the cover of ''Grand Hotel''

Madonna Tribe

Madonna is on the cover of the latest issue of Italian gossip magazine "Grand Hotel". This week's issue is heavily focused on heroes and stories related to the devastating earthquake that hit central Italy on April 6th, and Madonna lending a helping hand to the country of her ancestors brought her on the cover of Grand Hotel after 23 years - her previous appearance dating back to 1986.
The magazine features a four page article inside headlined with "This is my homeland" - and includes two vintage images of Madonna meeting the Ciccone relatives during the Italian leg of the Who's That Girl Tour. As an interesting tidbit the striking similarities between Madonna, the Vitucci family and her brother Christopher did not help the article's editor that keep referring to Chris as "Madonna's bodyguard".

A new school in Italy, with the help of Madonna

Metro via Madonna Tribe



The Madonna donation to the Italian city of Pacentro will be used to build a school in one of the towns that have been hit the most by the April 6th earthquake, mayor Fernando Caparso said, adding that he has already been in touch with Madonna's manager and proposed to use the 500,000 $ sum on a specific project that will last in the years to come.

In the next few days, Caparso told the Italian press, they will be able to figure out a project suitable to receive the Madonna contribution. It is likely that the donation will be used to re-build the nursery and primary school in the village of Goriani Sicoli, that has been demolished today following the damages of last week's earthquake.
The news has been reprised by many national newspapers today.

Pacentro on M's donation

Huffingtn Post

PACENTRO, Italy — The Material Girl is giving something back to the land of her ancestors.

Madonna has promised $500,000 to help victims of Italy's devastating earthquake, said Fernando Caparso, mayor of Pacentro, the mountainside village where two of the pop star's grandparents were born.

Carparso told The Associated Press on Wednesday that that he had spoken to the pop star's manager and that he was deeply moved by Madonna's effort to assist the town as well as surrounding areas.

"Madonna was the only one who could help us," he said. "Other then being a great singer, a great rock star and an intelligent woman, with this gesture she has become a great woman," he said.

Liz Rosenberg, the pop singer's spokeswoman, confirmed that Madonna had pledged a "substantial amount," in quake relief but didn't disclose the exact figure.

The picturesque village, 100 kilometers (60 miles) from hard-hit L'Aquila, felt Monday's earthquake but did not suffer serious damage. However Caparso said residents were terrified and some have been sleeping in tents or in their cars for fear of being crushed in collapsing buildings.

Caparso said the bulk of Madonna's donation would be destined for areas harder hit.

In this tiny village, located below a snow covered mountain and overlooking a valley of olive groves, residents were mostly appreciative of the gesture _ particularly coming at a time when the area was already experiencing economic problems.

"This was a tragedy for us, and I am very moved by what she did," said Davide Battaglini, 33, who works for Italy's financial police. "Our situation isn't the best, factories have been closing, so a gesture from a star like her is very welcome."

But Rosa Napoli, 90, was less than approving. "She is a woman that men like. She is not the Madonna that is worshipped in church," Napoli said as she left a small church where she attended an evening Mass.

Madonna still has relatives in the town, who live in a four-story home along the main road leading up through the mountainside village. Giuseppe Mirandola, the son of her second cousins, answered the door at the entrance to the home, flanked by potted plants and trees.

"Journalists have been bothering my family for a long time," Mirandola said from the door. "I don't want to talk."

Grazie Madonna!

Madonna Tribe

After being informed that Madonna has decided to make a donation to the victims of earthquake that has devastated the Italian region of Abruzzo Fernando Caparso, the mayor of Pacentro who the other day solicited a helping hand from the Queen of Pop, has released a statement to Adnkronos praising Madonna's gesture.

"I'm very happy, Madonna made a great gesture and gave out a great example. I had no doubt about Madonna's intelligence and sensitivity. You have to be real special to stay on top in show business for more than twenty years" Caparso said.

He added "The person in charge of Madonna's tours in Italy contacted me this morning and asked me to call her manager in Los Angeles who wants to talk to me. They gave me his number and I will call him tonight".

People magazine has previously reported Madonna is willing to donate about $500.000 to the Italian region, now devastated by the earthquake, from which his grandfathers Michelina Di Iulio and Gaetano Ciccone left to find fortune in America in the early 20's.

Caparso added that he hopes this gesture will be an example to follow by other major stars who love Italy.

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Fernando Caparso, the mayor of Pacentro, the mountainside village where two of the pop star's grandparents were born, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that that he had spoken to the pop star's manager. He said he was deeply moved by Madonna's effort to assist the town as well as surrounding areas.

Madonna vows $500G for Italy earthquake victims - 10 times what the U.S. government sent

NY Daily News


A member of a Spanish rescue team and a dog search through rubbles in L'Aquila.

Not-so-Material Girl Madonna pledged $500,000 for victims of Italy's terrible earthquake on Wednesday - 10 times what the U.S. government sent.

The mayor of Pacentro, the Abruzzi mountain village where Madonna Ciccone's paternal grandparents were born, reached out to the pop star, who is practically a holy icon in town, and begged for help.

Fernando Caparso, mayor of the medieval village of 1,300 souls about 60 miles from the epicenter of Monday's quake, said the singer quickly called with her generous offer.

"I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are from," Madonna told People magazine.

Caparso called it "a beautiful thing" and a big help for the people of the devastated regional capital L'Aquila.

On Monday, the State Department announced it was sending $50,000 in emergency relief funds.

President Obama has told Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that the U.S. stands ready if called on for help.

Dozens of Italian-American communities are also gathering donations.

In L'Aquila, the death toll climbed to 272, 16 of them children. About 100 people remained critically injured, 30 were missing and 28,000 were left homeless.

Digging will continue until Sunday.

As hopes faded that anyone else would be found alive in the rubble, the funerals began.

Soccer player Giuseppe Chiavaroli, 24, was carried to his final rest by his teammates, his sky-blue jersey draped across the top of his coffin.

Friday has been declared a national day of mourning and a group funeral will be held.

The Vatican had to grant a dispensation for the funeral Mass: Good Friday, which marks the day Jesus was crucified, is the only day on which Mass is not usually celebrated.

The funeral will be held in a police barracks - all of L'Aquila's churches have either collapsed or are unsafe to enter.

Pope Benedict said he will visit "as soon as possible."

Berlusconi, visiting the survivors, touchingly comforted distraught seniors but then struck false notes by bragging about what he's been through.

"I've beaten a personal endurance record: 44 hours without sleep," said the 72-year-old premier.

He brushed off criticism of his comment that those left huddled in tent cities should think of it as a "camping weekend."

"Sometimes, even during a tragedy like this, you've got to smile because you can't get results without optimism," he said.

Madonna Donates Money to Italian Earthquake Victims

People

When a devastating earthquake struck the Abruzzo region of Italy on Monday, the mayor of the hamlet of Pacentro made an appeal for help to the granddaughter of two former townspeople. The following morning, that granddaughter responded in a big way.

Madonna, whose paternal grandparents lived in Pacentro until 1919, made a "substantial donation" for the relief effort following the 6.3 magnitude quake that left more than 200 dead, says her publicist Liz Rosenberg. The rep wouldn't give the amount, but a source says it's about $500,000.

"I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are from," Madonna tells PEOPLE. "My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones or their homes."

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Guy Oseary twitters:

yes.. it was the twitter nation that informed us today of the mayors plea.. @francesco77 sent me the article. madonna is making a donation

thank you for informing me today that mayor of Pacentro,Italy made a plea to madonna for her to help earthquake victims.. help is on its way

Italy: Quake-city mayor appeals to Madonna for help

adnkronos



Rome, 6 April (AKI) - The mayor of the small Italian town of Pacentro, launched an appeal to US pop-star and entertainer Madonna on Monday to help the town collect funds to help the people of the central region of Abruzzo affected by a devastating quake. Madonna's paternal grandparents lived in Pacentro until 1919.

"If Madonna used her popularity to bring world attention to the tragedy of the people of Abruzzo, it would be a beautiful thing. She would be lending us a helping hand," said Fernando Caparso, the mayor of Pacentro in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

"Who would be better than her? A Ciccone, to help this part of the world," said Caparso, referring to Madonna's Italian last name.

Madonna's full name is Madonna Louise Ciccone

Pacentro "did not have any dead or injured residents, but only damages to old structures as well as the main church. However, there was so much fear, and we are now focused on helping our neighbours that have lost everything: This is why I ask Madonna to use her influence."

In 1987, Madonna visited Pacentro, where he met her cousins.

Monday's devastating earthquake in the mountainous Abruzzo region killed at least 92 people and injured 1,500 others.

The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the capital of the Abruzzo region, L'Aquila, as well as damaging 25 other cities including Pacentro and towns at 3:32 am local time. It was followed by a series of weaker tremors.

Between 3,000 to 10,000 buildings were reduced to rubble and L'Aquila's university hospital has been declared off limits amid fears it could collapse.

Between 30,000 to 40,000 people are said to have lost their homes.