HollywoodNews.com: AmFAR: that's the celebrity studded fundraising group for AIDS research. When Dr. Mathilde Krim started it over 20 years ago. AmFAR was alone and a pioneer in bringing the plight of AIDS and HIV to the world.
Two years ago Madonna made an appearance here in Cannes for AmFar's annual "Cinema Against AIDS' dinner. Madonna was in town to promote her self-important Africa documentary. She'd never been to Cinema Against AIDS before. Sharon Stone, as usual, was the emcee and auctioneer. Madonna-who has not donated money to AmFAR at least through her charitable Ray of Light foundation-auctioned off a couple of handbags she owned, a signed guitar, and some miscellaneous items from the stage, even some used tissues.
For her time, and the publicity, this column has now learned that Madonna received an in-kind donation to her then brand new Raising Malawi charity, of $1 million.
Raising Malawi was started in 2007 as an arm of the Kabbalah Center in Los Angeles. The group is busy inculcating Malawian children with Kabbalah curriculum. Says one former Kabbalah Center member: "They're very good at going into poor countries and getting a foothold."
