Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 17, 2017
Next week, the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign will bring together more than 125 advocates from 29 states for its annual Leadership Summit, a three-day event to train and mobilize the next generation of grassroots leaders in the fight against malaria. The Summit culminates on Capitol Hill for World Malaria Day, April 25, galvanizing policymakers to support U.S. funding for global malaria programs.
In response to dramatic proposed funding cuts to foreign assistance programs and UN agencies engaged in life-saving work around the world, these champions will meet with their members of Congress to help ensure the U.S. does not back away from its commitments to the fight against malaria and maintains a strong relationship with the United Nations.
UK television broadcaster and malaria survivor, Charlie Webster, along with refugee turned supermodel and philanthropist, Mari Malek, are among several Summit speakers who aim to inspire Nothing But Nets champions to use their voices in their communities to 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 importance of funding for the United Nations, the President’s Malaria Initiative, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Summit participants will hear from additional speakers including:
- Michael Gerson, Washington Post Columnist, Speechwriter and Senior Policy Advisor to President George W. Bush, ONE campaign Policy Fellow
- Chiara Cardoletti-Carroll, Deputy Regional Representative, The UN Refugee Agency
- Irene Koek, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Global Health Bureau, USAID
- Chris Collins, President, Friends of the Global Fight
- Davis Smith, Founder and CEO, Cotopaxi
- Lisa Goldman-Van Nostrand, Chief of Staff, Global Health Partnerships, Sumitomo Chemical
- Kathy Calvin, President and CEO, UN Foundation
- Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy CEO, UN Foundation
- Aaron Sherinian, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, UN Foundation
- Peter Yeo, Vice President - Public Policy & Advocacy, UN Foundation
- Margaret Reilly McDonnell, Director, Nothing But Nets
- Heather Vardell, National President, JCI USA
- Miriam Lussungo Bamba, Midwife at Kafumbwe Clinic in eastern Zambia
- Chip Huber, Associate Vice President for Student Development and Director of Athletics, Cornerstone University, Nothing But Nets Champion
- Colby Bryant, CEO, Youth Caucus for America, Nothing But Nets Champion
- Ibilola Owoyele, President of African Society of Georgetown, Nothing But Nets Champion
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. The campaign has raised $60 million and delivered over ten million nets and other malaria interventions and treatment through its UN partners to protect refugees and vulnerable families. Since 2000, there has been incredible progress made to defeat the disease – more than 6.8 million lives have been saved, and child mortality rates have decreased 71% in sub-Saharan Africa.
Media Opportunity: This event is open to the press. Please contact Rachel Henderson, Nothing But Nets Communications Manager, for credentials and speaker availability.
When: April 23-25, 2017
Where: Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1001 14th St. NW (April 23)
Kaiser Family Foundation, 1330 G St. NW (April 24)
Contact: For interviews, please contact Rachel Henderson, 570-259-2205, rhenderson(at)unfoundation(dot)org.