"Best Week Ever" For Nothing But
Nets
Vh1 Produces and Premieres Public Service Announcement
with A Little Help from VH1's Hit Series
PSA Expands Partnership Between VH1 and Nothing
But Nets to
Prevent Malaria in Africa
NEW YORK, NY, November
5, 2007 — An irritating human-sized mosquito
plays it for laughs to highlight a very serious
issue in a new Public Service Announcement (PSA)
created by VH1 for Nothing But Nets, a global,
grassroots campaign that provides long-lasting
insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria,
a leading killer of children in Africa. The
PSA, premiering on Monday, November 5, 2007 on
VH1, VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul and VH1.com is part
of VH1’s partnership with Nothing But Nets
to raise awareness and engage individuals in the
battle against malaria. Sherrod Small,
Chuck Nice and Laurie Kilmartin from “Best
Week Ever” play some of the office workers
who are annoyed by the large buzzing mosquito.
“Malaria is a devastating disease that affects
many people and we feel it is important to educate
our viewers on this issue and how they can help,”
said VH1 Executive Vice President and General
Manager, Tom Calderone. “When creating this
PSA, it was really important to connect with our
viewers through humor and there was no better
way to convey this message than by using some
of the cast from ‘Best Week Ever.’
We commend Nothing But Nets for their commitment
and look forward to continuing our partnership
in the fight against malaria.”
“Here in the U.S., mosquitoes are annoying;
but in Africa, they spread malaria, a potentially
fatal disease,” said Kathy Calvin, Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
the United Nations Foundation, creator of Nothing
But Nets. “The team at VH1 has done
a great job of conveying the gravity of this issue
with humor. We've been amazed and grateful
for the large outpouring of support from
tens of thousands of individuals who are already
sending nets and saving lives. Our partnership
with VH1 helps us to reach even more people and
we thank VH1 for this creative opportunity.”
In addition to airing on VH1, VH1 Classic, VH1
Soul, and VH1.com, the PSA will also run on Jumbo
Trons at NBA, WNBA, and MLS games throughout 2007
and 2008 through the Nothing But Nets’
partnership with NBA Cares, WNBA Cares and Major
League Soccer's MLS W.O.R.K.S. Visit www.NothingButNets.net
to view the PSA.
Each year, malaria infects approximately 300-500
million people around the world, killing more
than one million. Ninety percent of those who
die are African children: one child every 30 seconds.
One of the most cost-effective and simple approaches
to combating malaria is the use of insecticide-treated
bed nets; nets can prevent the transmission of
malaria by up to 90 percent in areas with high
coverage. The World Health Organization
recently touted the benefits of free mass distribution
of nets as “a powerful way to quickly and
dramatically increase coverage,” and cited
a decrease in deaths by more than 40 percent among
children in Kenya from 2004 to 2006 as a result
of wide-spread net distribution and use.
A $10 donation at www.NothingButNets.net
is all it takes to purchase and distribute a bed
net and educate the recipient on its proper use.
It’s an easy way for concerned individuals
to take part in the solution to save lives and
get involved in the global fight to combat malaria.
To date, Nothing But Nets has engaged more than
60,000 individuals, raised more than $16 million
and distributed more than 400,000 nets,
including a recent distribution to provide full
coverage for children and families in Congo. More
than 300,000 more nets will be distributed
in Gabon and Mali this fall. Bed net distributions
are organized and implemented by the Measles Initiative,
a partnership led by the American Red Cross, the
United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health
Organization, and UNICEF.
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign
to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading
killer of children in Africa. Inspired by Sports
Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, thousands of
people have joined the campaign that was created
by the UN Foundation in 2006. Founding campaign
partners include the National Basketball Association’s
NBA Cares, The People of the United Methodist
Church, and Sports Illustrated. It only
costs $10 to provide an insecticide-treated bed
net that can prevent this deadly disease. Visit
www.NothingButNets.net
to send a net and save a life.
VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and
pop culture that matter to them most with TV series,
specials, live events, exclusive online content
and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available
in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1
also has an array of digital services including
VH1 Classic and VH1 Soul. Connect with VH1
at www.VH1.com.
###
Press Contacts:
Maura Wozniak Amy
DiElsi
VH1 Communications
United Nations Foundation
(o) 212.846.7325 (o)
202.419.3230
(e) maura.wozniak@vh1staff.com
(e) adielsi@unfoundation.org
