CHICAGO - The charity for which former Illinois first lady Patti Blagojevich ate a tarantula on an NBC reality competition show has rejected the money. | Bungle in the jungle as 'Celebrity' debuts

Blagojevich ate the dead spider for Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation on "I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here." But the foundation said it wouldn't take the donation.

Bear Necessities spokeswoman Courtney Krupa says the charity wanted to be cautious, "with so much press going on about the governor." Krupa said the charity's board rejected the offer May 28.

NBC says any money would go to the Florida-based Children's Cancer Center.

Blagojevich's husband, ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has been accused of demanding a $50,000 donation from Children's Memorial Hospital, a partner of Bear Necessities.