Nothing But Nets

At the halftime show of last night’s MLS game between D.C. United and the Chicago Fire, Makita presented Nothing But Nets with a giant $100,000 check to represent their gift to the Campaign – and I was the lucky one to accept on behalf of the UN Foundation and Nothing But Nets!

Five minutes before half-time I went to our Nothing But Nets booth (we got to pass out t-shirts to donors and talk to fans about malaria) to be escorted down to the field with Ryan McKenna from Makita and D.C. United’s Nothing But Nets spokesman, Ben Olsen. There were 10 excited girls each holding a sign that said “Saving 1,000 Lives” which was is a brilliant representation of the more than 10,000 lives saved by this generous donation. All 13 of us were ushered onto the field, cameras rolling, and Ryan from Makita presented us with the giant check that will shortly be put to use covering African children with protective bed nets.

Hundreds of people around the world are hosting NETS Challenges to raise money and awareness in commemoration of World Malaria Day, today, April 25. Our new NETS Challenge map has the towns marked where our Challenge Hosts are having their parties. If you're not the map yet, email us! And if you see yourself already, update your information with us so everyone can see the fun way you're sending nets and saving lives.

Use the zoom and arrow buttons on the map to find your Challenge or others in your town. Or, view the larger map to see more details about all the NETS Challenges across the country!

This month is March Madness, but the games keep going into April with World Malaria Day coming up on April 25th — and we have a way for you to play some sports and send some nets!

It’s all about the NETS Sports Challenge right now. We want you to get active and bring in friends and family to have some fun and raise money to stop malaria. Here’s how:

Host your own NETS Challenge by arranging a sports event - a mini basketball tournament, a doubles tennis match or even some backyard soccer.

Check out this blog from another campaign the UN Foundation is doing to involve citizens in the Presidential elections. Here you too can submit your ideas on how he or she can improve American’s image in the world, starting On Day One – post your ideas on malaria and more!

John Boonstra writes, “The trick, of course, is convincing would-be presidents that combating malaria in Africa is a pressing goal for their administration. Aid, as Kristof admits, can be "devilishly difficult," but, done right, it can both improve America's standing in the world and save valuable lives.

Tell the candidates that fighting malaria must be an important item on their presidential agenda, and, while you're at it, check out On Day One's sister organization, Nothing But Nets, for a simple and cost-effective way to save even more lives threatened by malaria.”