It is NOT true that Madonna has appealed to Geo Bush, and "Good Job Brownie" for help in Advising Italy on Recovery Efforts, since they did such a wonderful Job with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans :)

(ANSA) - Rome
April 8, 2009

Pop queen Madonna has made a substantial donation to the quake-stricken central Italian city where her roots lie.

Madonna, 50, whose birth name is Madonna Louise Ciccone,, has given 500,000 pounds ($750,000) towards the relief and reconstruction of L'Aquila, British media reported Wednesday.

"I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are from", Madonna said in a statement...

"My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones or their homes".

The Ciccones, the hitmaker's paternal grandparents, lived in the village of Pacentro (which is in the city of L'Aquila, near the earthquake's epicenter) L`Aquila until 1919. 

Nearly 33,000 people were killed in the region in a devastating quake in 1915.

Monday's quake killed at least 250 people and flattened much of L'Aquila and nearby towns
 

FOOTNOTE: L'Aquila, April 8 - Premier Silvio Berlusconi told reporters on Wednesday he had not slept a wink in 44 hours to deal with the emergency in the quake-stricken region of Abruzzo. "I've beaten a personal endurance record: 44 hours without sleep", said the 72-year-old premier, who added": not bad for a 35-year-old".

Berlusconi, who is on his third visit to the stricken area, said he was ready to return every day if necessary.
 
 

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