Detroit Pistons Players to Send Nets and Protect Refugees from Malaria

Today, the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, the world’s largest, grassroots campaign to fight malaria, announced its Champions Anthony Tolliver and Steve Blake will donate three life-saving bednets to the campaign for every three-pointer they make during the 2015-16 NBA season. They have inspired at least seven more of their teammates to also support Nothing But Nets this season.

Inspired by Golden State Warriors star and reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry, both Tolliver and Blake joined the Nothing But Nets campaign earlier this year and hope to raise awareness and funds, as well as encourage fans, to help protect refugees and their families from malaria.

“We’re blown away by this incredible commitment from the Pistons to help us defeat malaria,” said Chris Helfrich, director of Nothing But Nets. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an NBA athlete, coach, or fan – sports can inspire change and save lives.”

After hearing about the need for insecticide-treated nets in Africa, Tolliver drove the idea of the campaign to his teammates, urging them to also get involved. Several players have committed to donating nets for three-pointers, blocked shots, and even dunks.

Today, there are more than 50 million refugees and families displaced by violence around the world – and 60 percent of them live in areas where malaria is transmitted. Malaria is a major threat to refugees – it is a leading cause of illness and death in many African countries, including those where Nothing But Nets and its UN partners, UNICEF and the UN Refugee Agency, work. This year, the campaign launched The Million Nets Pledge to protect refugee families from malaria with one million bednets by 2016. This ambitious two-year goal aims to raise $10 million to protect vulnerable people fleeing violence, particularly in Central Africa.

Every 60 seconds, a child dies from malaria. Nothing But Nets works closely with its UN partners across sub-Saharan Africa to ensure vulnerable populations including children, refugees, and families displaced by conflict are protected from this deadly disease.

The Nothing But Nets campaign boasts hundreds of thousands of supporters – from students to athletes to entertainers – who all help to protect families on another continent from the threat of malaria. Fans can get involved to help the Detroit Pistons and Nothing But Nets in the fight against this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and help save a live.

# # # 

Contact:

Rachel Henderson

Communications Manager, Nothing But Nets

[email protected]

M: 570.259.2205

O: 202.739.2782

About Nothing But Nets

Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa. 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. Since then, Nothing But Nets has raised more than $56 million to help deliver more than nine million bednets to families in need. Campaign partners include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, Junior Chamber International, and Major League Soccer’s MLS WORKS. It costs $10 to purchase and deliver an insecticide-treated bednet, provide education on its proper use, and provide other malaria reduction interventions that can prevent this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.

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 global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.