Malaria Buzz Hits Toshiba’s Big Screen in Times Square

Today, as people all over the globe commemorate World Malaria Day, the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign debuted a new public service announcement highlighting the Champions in the fight against malaria on the Toshiba Vision screen in Times Square. Actress and Singer Mandy Moore, NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo, and others unveiled the PSA with a signature “10, 9, 8” Times Square countdown during a launch event at the R Lounge at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel.

“By placing this important message on the big screen in Times Square, we hope everyone will see that they too can help the UN combat malaria,” says Elizabeth McKee Gore, Executor Director of Nothing But Nets and United Nations Foundation Executive Director for Partnerships. “We are thankful to Toshiba for providing its Toshiba Vision screen to help amplify the discussion about this important issue.”

The high-impact PSA previews a dynamic photo exhibit featuring images by renowned photographer Platon, which launches tonight at the United Nations Visitors Center.  The PSA will run through May 21, 2011 to coincide with the UN exhibit. The display offers distinctive portraits of Champions such as President George W. Bush and UN Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner, as well as Moore and Mutombo, and families directly affected by malaria.

Since Nothing But Nets was created in 2006 to help raise funds to send long-lasting, insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria-carrying mosquitoes from biting, the malaria death rate among children has dropped from a child dying every 30 seconds to a child dying every 45 seconds. “Pushing back the clock like this is a sign that everyone can champion change in the fight against malaria by sending a net and saving a life,” said Gore.

To learn how to become a Champion and to view the PSA visit NothingButNets.net. For additional photos of the launch event, visit http://insiderimag.es/UNFWorldMalariaDay 

Tweet me: ANYONE can be a #Champion in the fight against #malaria. Help @nothingbutnets to send a net and save a life on #WorldMalariaDay.

Background
Malaria is both preventable and treatable, yet there are more than 200 million cases each year, killing nearly 1 million. The disease is a leading cause of death among children and refugees in Africa, where 90% of malaria deaths occur.

Long-lasting, insecticide-treated nets have been proven to be an easy and cost-effective method of preventing the spread of the disease. According to The World Health Organization enough nets have been delivered in 2010 to cover 76 percent of the people at risk for malaria, and 11 African countries have cut malaria rates in half, in less than three years.  To date, Nothing But Nets has raised more than $35 million to distribute more than 4 million nets to families throughout Africa.

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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 columnist Rick Reilly, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations 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.

About the United Nations Foundation 
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities.  We build and implement public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and work to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.  Through our campaigns and partnerships, we connect people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems.  These campaigns focus on reducing child mortality, empowering women and girls, creating a new energy future, securing peace and human rights, and promoting technology innovation to improve health outcomes.  These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About Toshiba Vision
Prominently positioned below the world-famous New Year countdown ball in New York City’s Times Square business and entertainment district, Toshiba’s massive dual LED signboards, known collectively as “TOSHIBA VISION,” serve a variety of promotional and public-service functions. In addition to illuminating the annual New Year countdown for upwards of 1 billion celebrants worldwide, the Interlocking System connects both boards in brilliant seasonal displays and animated sporting events. From atop One Times Square Building, one of the most valuable advertising locations in the world, TOSHIBA VISION ensures superb domestic and international media exposure, providing the Toshiba brand with unrivalled quantitative and qualitative promotional benefits. For more information on the TOSHIBA VISION LED signboards please visit www.toshibavision.com.

Media Contact:
Negin Janati, United Nations Foundation, (202) 378-7858; njanati@unfoundation.org