Nothing But Nets Blog

On Wednesday, the Nothing But Nets team joined the First United Methodist Church in downtown Chicago for their mid-week service. A great way to kick off our Chicago City Tour! 

Nothing But Nets has had a long partnership with The people of the United Methodist Church. At the service, a visiting youth choir sang and, afterward, everyone checked out some of the photos from the Champions to End Malaria photo exhibit. 

The people of First UMC were great hosts and gave us a chance to talk to the congregation about how anyone, from bishops to basketball players, can be a Champion in the fight against malaria.

Following the service, the congregation gathered for a quick reception to enjoy snacks and talk about the photo exhibit and its amazing Champions — by the end of the day, the congregation donated enough to send more than 50 life-saving bed nets!

Nothing But Nets is hitting the road! Between June 9-12, we’ll be in Chicago, with events all over the city. We’d love for you to join us!

See the Champions to End Malaria Exhibition
The Roll Back Malaria partnership and Nothing But Nets are showcasing a few of the hundreds of thousands of Champions who are helping save lives by preventing malaria through a larger-than-life, interactive exhibit featuring portraits by world-renowned photographer Platon. Stop by to see our “Champions to End Malaria” exhibit from June 9-10!

Where:              James R. Thompson Center,
                        1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
When:               Thursday, June 9 & Friday, June 10          
                        9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Read more about our upcoming Chicago events!

We're excited to announce the top four finalists in our contest to find our next Champion in the fight against malaria. Voting will open until May 31st – so make sure you cast your vote to help us choose the next Champion! We’ll announce the winner in Chicago alongside our partners at the WNBA Sky Season Opener on June 10.

And remember: it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, anyone can be a Champion in the fight against malaria. All you’ve got to do is take action: whether it’s raising awareness about malaria prevention, volunteering on the ground, sending nets and saving lives, advocating for government funding for malaria programs, working in a lab — there are so many ways to be a Champion.

Keep up the great work!

As USAID marks its 50th Anniversary, Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer, head of the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), talks with Population Services International’s Impact Magazine about what needs to happen over the next five years to achieve the global goal of near zero malaria deaths by 2015.

Rear Admiral Ziemer leads the United States’ fight against malaria through PMI -- a historic $1.2 billion, five-year initiative to control malaria in Africa. Since 2006, the initiative has helped 15 high-burden countries in Africa dramatically increase effective malaria prevention and treatment interventions; during 2009 alone, PMI reached more than 50 million people. He’s also featured in our Champions to End Malaria exhibit, which is currently on display at the United Nations Visitor’s Centre.

Impact Magazine is published by our partner PSI, a leading global health organization with programs targeting malaria, child survival, HIV, reproductive health and non-communicable disease in 67 countries. Check it out!

When I was younger, my Mom looked out for me. Despite the fact that I wasn’t interested in wearing a helmet every time I rode my bike or that embarrassing fuzzy hat when it was cold outside, I know now that she was doing her best to protect me. Mothers around the world are doing the same – and you can help them protect their children from malaria by sending a net and saving a life.

When Nothing But Nets Champion Mandy Moore was in the Central African Republic last fall, she said something that stuck with me: “Mothers here are like mothers anywhere.” No matter where you live – in Louisiana or in Liberia – mothers are doing their best to keep their children healthy, happy, and safe. So this Mother’s Day, I’m showing my love and appreciation for my Mom – and moms at the Bahn Refugee Camp in Liberia – with a card, a phone call, and a gift that saves lives. What will you be giving?

Send a net. Save a life. Together we can cover a continent. And to all the moms out there – Happy Mother’s Day from Nothing But Nets!

Yesterday, the Roll Back Malaria partnership released a new report called “Business Investing in Malaria Control: Economic Returns and a Healthy Workforce for Africa.”

The report studied countries where companies have expanded their role in malaria prevention. Roll Back Malaria found that the private sector is a critical partner in the fight against malaria – and that preventing malaria benefits both the company and a community’s economy, because malaria is bad for business.

Last Saturday, I was invited down to Charlotte, NC to speak at a benefit dinner at Davidson College. The dinner was organized by Bryant Barr, a former Davidson student -- who I quickly learned has an amazing heart and compassion for people all around the world. 

Bryant first became interested in global health issues on a mission trip and, as they say, the rest is history. After his trip, he returned to Davidson and used his passion for basketball to engage his teammates and local students in a 3-on-3 tournament to raise money for bed nets. Now, just a couple of years later, Bryant feels there’s still more he can do, so he’s inspiring his community to send even more life-saving nets.

Instead of regular birthday presents for her 13th birthday party, Béatrix Pratte-Ness asked her classmates at the International School of Monaco to donate money to Nothing But Nets. To track their progress, they created their own NETraiser team, called VOXME. This great party raised enough to send more than 300 life-saving bed nets! Now that’s cause for celebration! 

The VOXME team, lead by Béatrix and her brother Hadrien, aims to raise awareness and funds for Nothing But Nets by selling holiday cards and organizing a variety of school and community activities.

Congratulations to the students of The International School of Monaco. They are a real inspiration to teenagers around the world!

Want to support Beatrix and her classmates? Check out their NETraiser team!

This World Malaria Day, we’re celebrating Champions in the fight against malaria! In Times Square, we’re showcasing Champions on the Toshiba big screen with this brand new video:

At the United Nations headquarters (and online here!), Nothing But Nets and the Roll Back Malaria partnership are highlighting some of the hundreds of thousands of Champions who are helping save lives by preventing malaria through a larger-than-life, interactive exhibit, featuring photos by world renowned artist Platon. The Champions to End Malaria Exhibit will be open to the public now through May 22^nd — If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by and check it out!

As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair signed the commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals and used his leadership role to renew dedication to combating malaria.  Today, as Founder and Patron of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, he continues to support work to end deaths from malaria through global multi-faith initiatives and training of faith-leaders on the ground to promote malaria prevention messages to their congregations.

This World Malaria Day, our friends across the pond at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation have sent out thousands of their Faiths Act Ribbons around the world, from Ethiopia to Singapore. For every 10 people pictured wearing one, the Foundation will send a life-saving net to Africa. Learn more about the ribbons and the Faith Foundation supporters around the world here: FaithsAct.org.

As the world rallies around World Malaria Day on April 25th, it’s important to recognize the work being done year-round by Champions like Tony Blair and organizations like the Tony Blair Faith Foundation in the fight against malaria. We’re honored to have so many committed partners and Champions working with us – because it’s only through working together that we will reach the global goal of ending malaria deaths by 2015.

PS - You can learn more about Champions to End Malaria here.

On Friday, April 15, the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, New Jersey hosted an interactive malaria-education workshop in the lead-up to World Malaria Day. Members of the Nothing But Nets team came up to recognize the club’s boys and girls as Champions in the fight against malaria for their work to raise funds to send nets and save lives. 

We were also joined by some of our Champions including UN Special Envoy for Malaria, Ray Chambers; New York Red Bulls’ Dwayne DeRosario; and supporters Alexandra Taylor, and Kevin Vernimb. Newark Mayor Corey Booker even ecognized the event with an official declaration! Each of these Champions shared their experiences and talents with the Boys and Girls Club and encouraged them to think creatively about how they can join the movement to end malaria.

For World Malaria Day this year, we’re honoring Champions in the fight against malaria -- from students to CEOs to YOU.

Here at Nothing But Nets, we’ve seen that ANYONE can be a Champion in the fight against malaria. Over the years we’ve met so many of them, across the globe -- boy scouts, basketball players, CEOs, singers, actors, writers, government officials, faith leaders, fashion designers, soccer stars, community health workers, scientists, students, campers, artists…the list goes on and on!

Together with the Roll Back Malaria partnership and with generous support from the ExxonMobil Foundation, we're showcasing some of the hundreds of thousands of Champions who are helping save lives by preventing malaria through a larger-than-life, interactive photo exhibit at the United Nations, launching on April 25th and running through May 22nd.

Champions in the fight against malaria span the globe, so we’re bringing our photo exhibit to life on Champions.NothingButNets.net. We’ll be featuring 24 Champions to End Malaria online – and you can help us find our 25th!

Deep in the heart of Texas, Amy Dorsett of the Alamo Heights United Methodist Church is cooking to save lives! She collaborated with her congregation as a part of their 100th Anniversary to put together “The Heights of Taste Cookbook”. 

Over 750 recipes from the Southwest make up this cookbook – some passed down from generation to generation, and others, brand new recipes. The cookbook features stories, photos, tips, and commentary from the churchgoers who sent them in.

Best of all, the proceeds go toward sending nets and saving lives in Africa! Unfortunately, only Texans can purchase the book right now, but if you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to pick one up.

Each day, hundreds of refugees are fleeing the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire — leaving behind their homes and many of their belongings and moving to refugee camps across the border in Liberia.

The BBC says: “What started as a trickle of around 300 refugees into Liberia at the beginning of the Ivorian political stalemate late last year, is turning into a huge refugee crisis, with plans afoot to build more camps in Liberian villages for the refugees. But support for the fleeing people is not yet adequate.”

As the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) works to provide families with food, water, and shelter, the UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign is stepping up to provide urgently needed bed nets to over 70,000 refugees. And we need your help.

We are thrilled to present to you the Nothing But Nets 2010 Annual Report, collecting a year’s worth of efforts to save lives and the myriad of ways that you have contributed to the fight against malaria.

Another year has come and gone in the fight against malaria. As incredible as the numbers are, 4 million nets delivered, a 50% reduction in malaria in 11 countries, there’s one number that means more than any of those to us. Since this campaign started, 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 you are making a difference in the fight against malaria.

Almost five years ago, a single article was written, that launched a campaign, that gathered your attention and your imagination. As you read through the Nothing But Nets 2010 Annual Report, we hope you’re as proud of the Champion level actions you’ve taken as we are. Looking forward, we hope you join us in moving forward with this mantra in mind: Ten dollars. One net. Zero deaths by 2015.

On a Venn diagram of deliciousness and saving lives, this story falls directly in the middle. In February, Boy Scout Troop 73 of Centenary United Methodist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, held a pancake breakfast in support of Nothing But Nets.

The Scouts cooked up towering stacks of pancakes, along with freight-loads of eggs, sausage, and other breakfast treats, much to the delight of the hungry and generous members of the Methodist Men. The Methodist Men are no strangers to nets – they’ve slept under anti-malaria nets on mission trips to places such as Kenya.

These intrepid Scouts of the Blue Grass Council managed to bring in over $830 to send nets to Africa! Nothing But Nets is so proud to be partners with the Boy Scouts of America and the United Methodist Church in the fight against malaria.

It turns out we’re not alone in preferring the sound of music to the sound of mosquitoes buzzing. Bill Schoening, who serves as the main announcer and “voice” of the San Antonio Spurs, inspired by his United Methodist Church, has released a new CD called Second Chance to help save lives by preventing malaria. On its four tracks, Bill belts out contemporary gospel with an eight-piece backing. Bill isn’t hoping to quit his day job to go on tour -- instead, he confesses, “My goal is not to embarrass myself musically, and to raise money for charity.”

Working in partnership with the United Methodist Church and their Imagine No Malaria initiative, Bill is donating all of the proceeds from his $10 CD to Nothing But Nets! Bill shared with us what inspires him to give back: “In 2005 I had what could best be described as a spiritual renewal, and that has allowed me to meet some people who are truly inspiring in the way they consistently give their time, talents, and money and rarely ask for anything in return.” Bill’s personal journey prompted him to dedicate his album to giving families in Africa a second chance with life-saving bed nets. To purchase his CD, check out the Bethany United Methodist Church’s website!

Last week, we discovered that “Fashion Rules!” at Neiman Marcus in Chevy Chase, MD -- and that joining the movement to end malaria with Nothing But Nets is always in fashion!

As guests came into the store, they were greeted by sleek tables laced with parfaits and desserts, treats from Frostings Cupcakery’s, and sorbets and gelato from our friends at Dolci Gelati. Fresh off the launch of her first CD, DJ Neekola provided the background music for the night.

As they checked out the latest spring fashions and played a few games, attendees also learned the facts about malaria:

• Malaria is preventable, but causes more than 200 million illnesses each year and kills nearly 1 million of those who become infected.
• 90 percent of deaths caused by malaria occur in Africa, where the disease is a leading cause of death of children.
• Every 45 seconds a child in Africa dies from malaria.

We’re big basketball fans here at Nothing But Nets. Over the years, we’ve worked with some amazing fans and players of all levels, from elementary school players to the pros, and we know they’re passionate about nets!

So -- you’re a basketball fan and you’ve filled out your March Madness bracket. What’s next? You’ll watch your favorite teams play with fellow fans. Why not join the millions of fans who have joined the movement to end malaria with Nothing But Nets? Here are a couple ideas on how you can get involved:

• Host a basketball tournament to raise funds and awareness for malaria prevention
• Put on a shoot out (and see how many of your baskets are “Nothing But Nets”!)
• During your favorite team’s game, skip the half time show -- instead, talk to your friends and family about malaria, Nothing But Nets, and how easy it is to get involved!
• With your intramural or school team, start a NET-raiser team to raise funds and awareness together.

Send a net. Save a life. Together -- with basketball fans and players of all ages, from all over the world -- we can cover a continent!

Spreading the buzz about malaria is a team effort here at the United Nations Foundation. So when our very own Director of Business Services and Budget, Dave Burton, said he wanted to share our work at his mom’s church, we were thrilled!

The UN Foundation is home to not just Nothing But Nets, but also Girl Up -- a campaign that gives American girls the opportunity to channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for programs of the UN that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls. Last week, the Women’s Circle of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Richmond, VA learned about both UN Foundation campaigns.

They learned about empowering girls through Girl Up and joined the movement to end malaria with Nothing But Nets. After hearing about how easy it is to send a net and save a life, these ladies each donated at least one bed net. Thanks to their contributions, another 18 families will be able to sleep safely.