Get in the game and join the NBA in helping to prevent malaria in Africa! NBA Cares and Nothing But Nets need your help to deliver life-saving bed nets to families in Africa. A $10 donation will provide a bed net to protect children and their families from the disease.

April 25, 2008, marked the first World Malaria Day. Malaria, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, infects more than 500 million people a year and kills more than a million – one child dies every 30 seconds. With your support, the insecticide-laden bed nets will protect children and families from mosquitoes and prevent them from flying on to their next victim.

During the week of April 25, the NBA participated in a number of events focused on raising malaria awareness.
On Wednesday, April 23, NBA Commissioner David Stern participated in UN Foundation Board Luncheon and
Press Conference.
On Friday, April 25, Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva and Connecticut Sun forward
Tamika Raymond joined United States President George W. Bush at the Northwest Boys & Girls Club in Hartford, CT, in support of World Malaria Day. Also on that day, Kathy Behrens, the NBA's Senior Vice President of Community and Player Programs, along with NBA legend Sam Perkins, joined Ted Turner and Rick Reilly in the New York Stock Exchange Bell Ringing.

The NBA Family has gathered to support the fight against malaria.NBA, WNBA and D-League teams are doing their part to raise awareness and support the efforts by donating auction items, hosting in-arena nights, creating
netraiser teams, showing public service announcements, and more. More than 30 events with 22 NBA teams, one D-League team and 10 WNBA teams were hosted in support of World Malaria Day. All 30 teams participated in some capacity to raise awareness about malaria and its impact on the world and/or generate funds to provide bed nets in Africa.

Current spokespeople for the Nothing But Nets campaign include Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls), Ruth Riley (San Antonio Silver Stars), Sam Perkins (NBA Legend), Kyle Korver (Utah Jazz), and DeSagana Diop (N.J. Nets). During the 2007-08 regular season, Deng donated $50 for each successful shot (field goals and free throws) during 2007-08 regular season play, while Diop donated $100 for each blocked shot. Deng (Sudan) donated $31,650 to NBN
through his commitment and Diop (Senegal) donated $8,800.


For more information on how you can help or participate in the campaign, visit the Nothing But Nets Web site!

NBA Cares, a founding partner of the Nothing But Nets campaign, has raised more than $18 million to provide life-saving bed nets to those in need. NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility program that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world.