Ambassador Susan Rice, Soccer Star Abby Wambach Champion Leadership in Fight against Malaria

Next week, the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign will bring together more than 125 youth and advocates from 26 states for its annual Champion Summit, a three-day event to train and mobilize the next generation of grassroots leaders in the fight against malaria. United States National Security Advisor, Ambassador Susan Rice, along with soccer star Abby Wambach, will speak to the Nothing But Nets Champions, inspiring them to use their voices in their communities and help ignite progress against this deadly disease.

During the Summit, Champions will learn the necessary skills to help build awareness about malaria and how to talk with their elected leaders about the power of funding for the President’s Malaria Initiative and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Summit participants will hear from additional speakers including:

* Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR

* Alan Court, Senior Advisor, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Financing the Health Millennium Development Goals and for Malaria

* Thon Chol, Refugee Advocate & Malaria Survivor

* Ivan Blumberg, CEO, Athletes for Hope

* Dr. Andrew Baldwin, US Naval Officer, Ironman Triathlete, Humanitarian, ABC’s “The Bachelor”

* Kathy Calvin, President & CEO, United Nations Foundation

* Chris Helfrich, Director, Nothing But Nets

* Donya Nasser, U.S. Youth Observer to the UN

Every two minutes, a child dies from malaria. Nothing But Nets is the world’s largest grassroots campaign fighting this disease caused by a single mosquito bite. Now in its tenth year, the campaign has raised $60 million and delivered nearly ten million nets through its UN partners to protect refugees and families across sub-Saharan Africa from malaria. Since 2000, there has been incredible progress made to defeat the disease – more than 6.2 million lives have been saved, and child mortality rates have decreased 71% in sub-Saharan Africa.

Recently in his last State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called to end the scourge of malaria and urged Congress to increase funding. President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request called for $874 million for PMI, a $200 million increase, and $1.35 billion in vital funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Media Opportunity: This event is open to the press. Please contact Rachel Henderson, Nothing But Nets Communications Manager, for credentials and speaker availability.

When: February 21 – 23, 2016

Where: Washington Marriot Georgetown, 1221 22nd St NW

For interview or content requests, please contact Rachel Henderson, Nothing But Nets, at 570-259-2205, [email protected].

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Contacts

Rachel Henderson

Communications Manager, Nothing But Nets

[email protected]

570.259.2205

About Nothing But Nets

Nothing But Nets is the world’s largest grassroots 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 over $60 million to help deliver 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 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: www.unfoundation.org.