RODRIGUEZ'S HALF MILLION MADONNA GIFT

Pop singer Madonna's very close friendship with baseball player Alex Rodriguez, has reportedly helped her land a $500,000 charity donation from the superstar. Rodriguez is alleged to have made the contribution to Madonna's charity, Raising Malawi, which helps the African nation's one million orphans gain access to food, education and medical care. A source tells the New York Daily News: "They've asked him for a million dollars, and I hear he's agreed to give at least $500,000.The sportsman's generosity comes just a month after rampant speculation he was engaged in an affair with Madonna. The singer has since denied the allegations, insisting she and husband Guy Ritchie remain happily married.Raising Malawi director Philippe van den Bossche says, "Obviously when you're talking about donors, these are private things. I would never reveal information about any donor."Bossche denies claims that Madonna's plans to build a girls' school with the funding will include a Kabbalah-based curriculum. He adds, "We're building a girls' school, which will bring the best resources from around the world with a specific focus on medicine, education and the law."It will be based on the British system -- as is taught in private schools Madonna's children Lourdes and Rocco attend. ... We want programs that can be copied in developing countries throughout the world. Not just a celebrity one-off." A spokesperson for Rodriguez has not returned calls for comment.

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