UNITED NATIONS - / www.MaximsNews.com, UN/ - 26 April 2007 -- NOTHING BUT NETS is a grassroots campaign to prevent malaria. Yesterday -- on the first-ever National Malaria Awareness Day -- plans were announced to hold events in twelve U.S. cities over the next year to raise awareness and money to prevent malaria in Africa. 

"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 U.N. 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," she declared.

Major events are being developed over the upcoming year 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 will engage Americans across the country in the fight against malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. It kicked off yesterday in South Florida with events in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. 

Events included: 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 gathered 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.

In a ceremony at the White House yesterday, U.S. 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 held events to commemorate the day.

Hundreds of NOTHING BUT NETS supporters attended 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” - that aired last night on FOX Television and helped  raise awareness and funds for children living in extreme poverty in Africa and America. 

NOTHING BUT NETS is in partnership with 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. 

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. 
    

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