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Nothing But Nets and Major League Soccer Team Up to Beat Malaria

April 23 2014

“Major League Soccer is a crucial partner in the fight against malaria,” said Chris Helfrich, Director of Nothing But Nets. “We’re leveraging the power of athletes, fans, and sports to show how this community can come together in a unique way to help save lives.”

To honor World Malaria Day (April 25), Nothing But Nets is convening national campaign partners, local communities, schools, and individuals to take sports-related challenges during the month of April, raising awareness, funds, and voices to fight malaria. Challenges are expected to include soccer tournaments, a nationwide juggle-a-thon, and other sports activities.

MLS WORKS has been an official partner with Nothing But Nets since 2007. The campaigns have engaged Major League Soccer fans, classrooms, and community leaders nationwide to raise awareness about malaria prevention.

Toronto FC star and MLS WORKS ambassador Dwayne De Rosario has traveled with Nothing But Nets and its partners to Mali, Africa where they delivered 133,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to families in need. De Rosario continues to be active with the campaign, raising awareness and getting families involved across North America.

“I have seen first-hand how malaria can devastate families,” said De Rosario. “It only costs $10 to send a net and save a life and I hope the fans will join us in this fight to beat malaria.”

Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to raise awareness and funds to fight malaria, a leading killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa. Together with its UN partners, the Nothing But Nets campaign has delivered more than 7 million bed nets since 2006.

Malaria is a deadly disease, transmitted by a single mosquito bite. Malaria kills more than 600,000 people worldwide every year and claims the life of a child every 60 seconds. But bed nets provide a simple, cost-effective solution and can reduce the spread of malaria by 90 percent in areas with high coverage rates.

For more information about Compete to Beat Malaria, visit www.NothingButNets.net/WorldMalariaDay.

Tweet this: .@MLS and @NothingButNets are teaming up to #BeatMalaria! @MLS is donating $10 for every goalkeeper save in April: http://bit.ly/1gVPKTg

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Contact

Rachel Henderson

Senior Communications Officer, Nothing But Nets

rhenderson@unfoundation.org | 202.739.2782

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 send more than 7 million bed nets to families across sub-Saharan Africa. Campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, The people of The United Methodist Church, and Major League Soccer’s MLS W.O.R.K.S. 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 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 MLS WORKS

MLS WORKS is Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues and serves as a platform for League and club philanthropic programs. MLS WORKS seeks to establish Major League Soccer as a leader for improving the lives of people through sport. Visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsworks.

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