Madonna Hosted Gala Benefit at Faena Forum

On December 2, the world’s reigning Queen of Pop delivered an evening of unmatched art and entertainment in the name of charity, securing $7.5 million to benefit Raising Malawi.

Alan Faena and Len Blavatnik were delighted to welcome Madonna for an evening of music, art, and mischief during the opening week’s ceremonies of the Faena Forum.

Madonna hosted a special event during Art Basel Miami to benefit Raising Malawi, her non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of impoverished children in the southeastern African nation through health, education and secure shelter.

The crowd-pleasing concert Tears of a Clown included a raw performance of rarely-heard songs from her albums American Life and Beautiful Stranger. She mesmerized a star-studded audience of famous friends like ex-husband Sean Penn, who she flirted with from the stage, Ariana Grande who joined her for a twerking session, her former love interest Alex Rodriguez, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Sean Combs, Paris Hilton, among others.

Equal parts artist, activist, and entertainer, Madonna got cheeky, political and sentimental while auctioning off items from her personal art collection and mementos from her past including wedding pictures of her and Sean Penn, a Scott costume from a recent tour, and her Bulgari diamond necklace.

When I discovered that there were over a million children orphaned by AIDS, I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to get involved and do what I could to help bring awareness to the situation.

—Madonna

While ticket prices ($5,000 for regular tickets, $150,000 for VIP access) and auction pieces certainly contributed to the night’s takeaway, it was Madonna’s passion and persistence that persuaded guests to “spend, baby, spend.”  Galvanized by the realization that AIDS orphans over a million children, Madonna committed herself to bringing awareness to the dire situation taking place in the home country of her two small children.

Profits from the gala and auction are earmarked for staffing, supply, and support the organization’s most recent project, The Mercy James Pediatric Surgery Hospital in Malawi. In an evening scintillating with celebrity, music, art and entertainment, the world’s original material girl certainly brought generosity center stage.