Houston Mayor Bill White Declares Nothing But Nets Week in Houston, TX
ExxonMobil Foundation announces commitment to grassroots campaign.
Houston, TX (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 18, 2007 -- At a press conference on the steps of City Hall today, Houston Mayor Bill White and Houston City Council Member Ada Edwards declared September 17 through September 23, 2007 Nothing But Nets week. Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria by providing insecticide-treated bed nets. The Campaign also announced a partnership with the Texas-based ExxonMobil Foundation, one of the largest private sector donors to malaria research and prevention. The partnership will help Nothing But Nets expand its network of supporters; more than 60,000 people are involved, nationwide.
“What a wonderful way to kick off our series of events in Houston to raise awareness about malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa,” said Elizabeth McKee, executive director of Nothing But Nets. “We thank Mayor White and Council Member Edwards for their city-wide commitment to Nothing But Nets. We also thank ExxonMobil Foundation for their tremendous contribution to this program which will help us continue to send nets and save lives throughout Africa.”
"With a workforce in Africa that numbers in the thousands, and as one of the largest direct foreign investors in the continent, ExxonMobil has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of malaria," said Gerald McElvy, president of ExxonMobil Foundation. "We are proud to stand with Nothing But Nets in the fight against malaria."
Throughout September, Nothing But Nets is hosting a series of events in Houston as part of its national effort to raise money and awareness for malaria prevention. In addition to Mayor White and the United Nations Foundation, a number of organizations will be raising awareness about the devastating effects of malaria, a disease that kills one million people each year, the vast majority of whom are children. The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Houston Dynamo, the Houston Rockets, the Houston Comets, and the World Affairs Council of Houston are co-hosting several events which include: a Malaria Boot Camp for youth with three-time Olympian and Houston Comets player Sheryl Swoopes; a faith leaders’ breakfast for area faith and lay leaders; and a World Affairs Council forum with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Earlier this month, the Houston Dynamo held a Nothing But Nets in-stadium event.
To learn more about the events in Houston, visit www.NothingButNets.net/Houston. For more information about the Campaign and future city stops, visit www.NothingButNets.net.
About Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Inspired by Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, tens of thousands of people have joined the Campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, The People of the United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated. It only costs $10 to provide an insecticide-treated bed net that can prevent this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.
Bed net distributions are organized and implemented by the Measles Initiative, a partnership of the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF.
Press Contacts:
Amy DiElsi, United Nations Foundation (o) 202.419.3230 (e) adielsi(at)unfoundation.org
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