Madonna has made a “generous” donation to aid residents of the region of Italy where her grandparents once lived a.

The pop icon woke up to the news that her paternal grandparents’ former hometown — a small Italian village called Pacentro — had been slammed with a 6.3 temblor.

Madonna responded by donating $500,000 to the relief effort after hearing the region’s mayor had appealed to her for help.

The star says in a statement, “I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are from. My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones or their homes.”

More than 200 people have been confirmed dead in the devastating quake, which struck at 3:32 A.M. Monday.