Nothing But Nets and The Whistle Sports Network Team Up to Save Lives

Today, at South by Southwest, the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign and The Whistle Sports Network announced a new partnership to unify the global sports community in a mission beyond winning games – working together to save lives.

With more than 2.7 billion views and 64 million online followers, Whistle Sports Network is the millennial voice and destination for sports. By activating its channel partners, Whistle Sports will inspire youth to join Nothing But Nets in protecting families from malaria, a disease which claims the life of a child every 60 seconds. Whistle Sports channel partners that will be participating with Nothing But Nets at launch include: Dude Perfect, STR Skill School, Major League Ultimate, Shot Science, Stronger Team, Five Star Basketball Camp, Me And My Golf and Freestyle Factory.

“What’s best about sport is the lessons it teaches – resilience, courage, enthusiasm, and teamwork,” said Brian Selander, Executive Vice President of Whistle Sports. “These values show exactly the kind of passion that we are looking to unleash in our fans today with this partnership.”

Malaria is a deadly disease, transmitted by a single mosquito bite. Malaria kills more than 600,000 people worldwide every year. But nets provide a simple, cost-effective solution that can stop the spread of malaria and save lives.

“The global community has already cut child deaths from malaria in half over the last decade,” said Nothing But Nets Director, Christopher Helfrich. “We are making tremendous progress and we hope that Whistle Sports ignites a generation of young people to help us defeat malaria in their lifetime.”

At the Social Good Hub in Austin, Nothing But Nets and Whistle Sports issued a call to action to sports fans and the digital community – to join “The Million Nets Pledge” on World Malaria Day (April 25) and help Nothing But Nets protect refugee families with life-saving bednets.

“By the end of next year, Nothing But Nets hopes to deliver more than a million nets to refugee families in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Helfrich. “Whistle Sports fans can help us get started by donating $10 on World Malaria Day, and asking their social networks to join the Million Nets Pledge.”

Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to raise awareness, funds, and voices to fight malaria. Since 2006, hundreds of thousands of sports fans and campaign supporters have joined the campaign to send nets and save lives. Together with its UN partners, the Nothing But Nets campaign has helped deliver more than nine million nets to families in 29 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. To learn more, visit www.NothingButNets.net. 

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Contact

Mariam Khan, Nothing But Nets mkhan@unfoundation.org

O: 917.445.1774

Justin Finnegan, SHIFT Communications

jfinnegan@shiftcomm.com

O: 646.362.0452

About Nothing But Nets

Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in sub-Saharan 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. Since then, Nothing But Nets has raised more than $50 million to help deliver more than nine million bednets to families in need. Campaign partners include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, Junior Chamber International, and Major League Soccer’s MLS W.O.R.K.S. It costs $10 to purchase and deliver an insecticide-treated bednet, provide education on its proper use, and provide other malaria reduction interventions 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 builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About Whistle Sports

Whistle Sports is a digital sports entertainment network engaging millions of young fans worldwide. The company’s owners, investors and content partners include sports heroes such as Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning and pro league partners like the NFL, PGA Tour, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, Major League Lacrosse, AVP (pro volleyball), Major League Soccer and the Harlem Globetrotters, as well as financial and strategic investors that include Emil Capital Partners, BSkyB, Liberty Global and SeventySix Capital. Whistle Sports currently has studio offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and London.