Today, the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign announced that thanks to its partners and donors around the world, it will have delivered 10 million life-saving bed nets by the end of 2016, its 10th anniversary year. In recognition of #GivingTuesday, several partner organizations have announced major commitments to help Nothing But Nets save lives from malaria.
“We want to take this moment, on #GivingTuesday, to thank our donors and supporters who have helped us protect millions of kids and families over the course of our campaign,” said Nothing But Nets Director Margaret Reilly McDonnell. “As famed sportswriter Rick Reilly wrote in his Sports Illustrated column ten years ago, ‘nets work’ – in fact, they’ve helped cut malaria deaths by more than half. We need to keep the momentum going. Working together, we can be the generation to end malaria for good.”
#GivingTuesday, November 29, 2016, harnesses the power of social media and the generosity of people around the world to celebrate the power of giving. Following the so-called Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday retail milestones that kick off the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday is intended to inspire people to take collaborative action to give back in better, smarter ways to the causes they celebrate and help create a better world.
In recognition of #GivingTuesday, several Nothing But Nets partners have announced major commitments to help fight malaria. Leading bed net manufacturer Sumitomo Chemical Co. renewed its commitment to protect women, children, and refugee families who are most vulnerable to malaria. Sumitomo is matching every net donated to the campaign through 2016 as part of The Million Nets Pledge and just renewed its commitment to do another match in 2017 to continue to send nets and save lives. Luxury bedding and home goods company Parachute Home has raised more than $100,000 to help deliver nets and to become a distribution partner of the campaign’s first-ever virtual reality film due out in early 2017.
Now in its tenth year, the Nothing But Nets campaign boasts hundreds of thousands of supporters – from students to athletes to entertainers – who all help to protect families from the threat of malaria by raising funds to provide bed nets and other malaria interventions and by advocating for critical malaria funding for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Every two minutes, a child dies from malaria – a preventable and treatable disease. Insecticide-treated bed nets provide a simple, cost-effective solution that can stop the spread of malaria and save lives. In 2000, a child died every 30 seconds from the disease, but today, deaths have been cut in half and deaths among children under five have been reduced by more than 70% in sub-Saharan Africa.
Anyone can send a net and help Nothing But Nets reach its 10 millionth net protecting families from malaria. Today, for #GivingTuesday, anyone who purchases a net will have their gift tripled thanks to two generous matching gift donors. Go to NothingButNets.net/GivingTuesday to learn more.
Contact
Rachel Henderson
Communications Manager, Nothing But Nets
rhenderson@unfoundation.org
570.259.2205
About Nothing But Nets
Now in its tenth year, Nothing But Nets is a global campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a disease which claims the life of a child every two minutes. 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. Nothing But Nets has raised $60 million to help deliver nearly ten million bed nets to families in need, along with other crucial malaria interventions. In addition to raising funds for its UN partners, Nothing But Nets raises awareness and voices to advocate for critical malaria funding for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It only costs $10 to help save lives from this deadly disease. Visit http://www.NothingButNets.net to defeat malaria.
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 philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: http://www.unfoundation.org.