Madonna launches Malawi fundraising campaign on her birthday
Madonna's birthday wish this year (16) is to help raise money for the children of Malawi.
The Material Girl singer celebrated her 58th birthday on Tuesday (16Aug16) and she recently teamed up with bosses at online fundraising website Omaze to launch a global campaign for her charity Raising Malawi. The initiative will help raise funds to build Malawi's first pediatric surgery and intensive care unit. It will also help create a playroom, named after the pop superstar's 13th studio album, Rebel Heart.
The campaign will run from Tuesday to 15 September (16), and one lucky donor will be picked to join Madonna in Miami, Florida.
"Being a Rebel Heart means fighting for what you believe in, with love," Madonna says. "For my birthday, I'm asking all of my Rebel Hearts to join me in bringing health and happiness to the children of Malawi."
The singer founded the Raising Malawi foundation in 2006 - the same year she adopted her son David Banda from the country. She also adopted her daughter Mercy James from Malawi in 2009.
Last month (Jul16), Madonna visited the site of the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to oversee the construction of the children's wing.
"It will have an enormous impact on saving the lives of children," a statement to The Associated Press reads. "In addition to raising the quality and availability of health care, we are also preparing for the future by training more Malawian medical staff in specialized pediatric care."
The new pediatric unit is scheduled to open early next year (17) and will feature three operating rooms dedicated to children's surgery and a 50-bed ward.
Meanwhile, Madonna is celebrating her birthday in style in Cuba. The singer posted a photograph of herself wearing a black fedora, a sheer black blouse over a lacy bra and a black and yellow fitted skirt on Tuesday.
"Thank you to all my fans and everyone who is in my gang for all your birthday Wishes!!!!," she captioned the picture. "You know how to make a girl feel special!!"
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