The Stars Come Out for World Malaria Day

The Pantages Theatre in Hollywood provided a gorgeous art deco backdrop for the Nothing But Nets World Malaria Day event, hosted by our partners at the Nederlander Organization. Stars, singers, and talented young actors came together to lend their support to our appeal to send 100,000 life-saving bed nets to refugees fleeing violence in South Sudan. Young performers wrote heartfelt “Letters of Hope” to refugee children in South Sudan, where malaria is the number one killer of children under five. Grammy-winning rapper and record producer Lupe Fiasco described his own experience using bed nets before and after trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2010 with United Nations Foundation Vice President Elizabeth Gore and actress Jessica Biel. “People across Africa,” Fiasco said, “confront the threat of malaria every day.” And Nothing But Nets’ newest Champion, actress Serinda Swan, spoke from the heart about how honored she was to join the fight against this deadly — and preventable — disease.

The inspirational gathering featured a moving performance by cast members of Billy Elliot the Musical — now at the Pantages — of the show’s the signature ballad, “The Letter.” The song about a mother’s love for her son echoed the sentiment expressed in the kids’ letters: hope.

You can send hope, too! World Malaria Day might be over, but refugees in South Sudan still need your help to protect them from malaria, a disease spread by a single mosquito bite. Every 60 seconds, a child dies from malaria. But just $10 sends a bed net that keeps a family safe as they sleep.

Visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.