Nothing But Nets in Hartford with President Bush!

Today, Nothing But Nets went to Hartford, Connecticut, to commemorate World Malaria Day with President Bush at Northwest Boys and Girls Club. The WNBA’s Tamika Raymond, a Forward for the Connecticut Suns, and Milwaukee Bucks Forward Charlie Villanueva joined American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle to help educate the kids about malaria and ways that they can help those threatened by the disease.

Tamika encouraged the children to think of ways they could get their friends, family and communities involved to send nets and save lives. She told them about Katherine Commaleand all she has done to help raise thousands of dollars for Nothing But Nets.  

After showing kids how to hang a bed net, Charlie presented President Bush with a Nothing But Nets T-Shirt. Two teens—Zach Ellenthal and Allyson Brown—were awarded the Dragonfly Award for their work to raise awareness and funds for malaria prevention. Dragonflies are the natural predators of the mosquito, hence the name.

After the awards presentation, President Bush spoke to a crowd of local supporters and was joined by Congressman Chris Shays and Admiral R. Timothy Ziemer, head of the President’s Malaria Initiative. The President called on everyone to help beat malaria, decalring that every individual can make a difference in the fight. He then called on governments to uphold their commitments to combating malaria.

The team is now heading back to New York to gather together for the ringing of the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange! Stay tuned for more updates!