Grassroots Campaign
Kicks Off Effort to Send More Nets
and Save More Lives
Nothing
But Nets Celebrates first-ever National
Malaria Awareness Day in Miami
American Idol’s “Idol Gives Back”
Features Campaign on Two-Night Television Special
MIAMI, FL and WASHINGTON,
DC (April 25, 2007) - Nothing But Nets - a grassroots
campaign to prevent malaria - announced today,
on the first-ever National Malaria Awareness Day,
that it will hold events in twelve cities over
the next year to raise awareness and money to
prevent malaria in Africa. Over the next twelve
months, Nothing But Nets partners - including
the United Nations Foundation, The People of The
United Methodist Church, the National Basketball
Association's NBA Cares, and Major League Soccer's
MLS W.O.R.K.S. - will work together to host major
events with business, faith, student, and athletic
communities in cities across the United States
including Atlanta, Houston, Denver, Washington
DC, culminating in New York City on Africa Malaria
Day 2008.
The Nothing But Nets multi-city grassroots initiative
to engage Americans across the country in the
fight against malaria, a leading killer of children
in Africa, kicks off today in South Florida with
events in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Today's events
include: a prayer breakfast with faith leaders
at Christ Church United Methodist in Ft. Lauderdale,
a business luncheon co-hosted by Miami business
leader, Mark Gordon and Miami Heat forward Jason
Kapono; and a Nothing But Nets Malaria Boot Camp
at the University of Miami where more than 200
local high school and university students will
gather to learn about malaria from health experts
and learn how to work with their communities to
prevent malaria by getting involved in Nothing
But Nets.
"What better way to commemorate this first-ever
Malaria Awareness Day in the United States than
by bringing communities together to raise awareness
and make a difference,” said Kathy Bushkin
Calvin, Executive Vice President of the UN Foundation,
the founder of Nothing But Nets. "We will
take the enthusiasm and support that we've found
in Miami and bring that across other cities in
America. Together we can all help save lives in
Africa. Preventing malaria is as easy as sending
a net. "
In a ceremony at the White House today, President
George W. Bush declared April 25, recognized worldwide
as Africa Malaria Day, as national Malaria Awareness
Day for the first time in the United States. In
addition to the event at the White House, Congress
and individuals across the country are holding
events to commemorate this day.
Hundreds of Nothing But Nets supporters will attend
Nothing But Nets American Idol "Idol Gives
Back" watch parties in their homes, churches,
and schools. Miami Heat’s Jason Kapono joined
students and community members at the University
of Miami for a watch party. Nothing But Nets is
one of eight charities benefiting from ”Idol
Gives Back” - airing tonight on FOX Television
- which will help raise awareness and funds for
children living in extreme poverty in Africa and
America. To view photos and highlights of these
parties, visit www.NothingButNets.net.
While malaria has been eliminated in the United
States, it still kills one million people each
year especially children. Yet, there is an easy,
affordable way to prevent the deadly disease –
sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets stops
mosquitoes from biting. A $10 donation to Nothing
But Nets provides a net and educates an African
family on its use. Since the Campaign was created
less than a year ago, Nothing But Nets has engaged
nearly 50,000 people in a discussion about malaria
and delivered more than $5 million to put nets
over the beds of families throughout Africa. And
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches
donations dollar for dollar. Visit www.NothingButNets.net
to send a net and save a life.
###
About
Nothing But Nets
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 United Nations Foundation. Founding campaign
partners include the National Basketball Association’s
NBA Cares, The People of the United Methodist
Church, and Sports Illustrated. Other partners
include VH1, The Mark J. Gordon Foundation, AOL
Black Voices, and Rotarians’ Action Group
on Malaria. It only costs $10 to provide an insecticide-treated
bed net that can prevent this deadly disease.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches
donations dollar for dollar. Visit www.NothingButNets.net
to send a net and save a life.
