Malaria takes center-stage as Disney’s The Lion King and the Nederlander Organization Join the Fight Against Malaria

Today, the UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets—a global, grassroots campaign to fight malaria in Africa—announced that Disney’s The Lion King and the Nederlander Organization are joining the campaign as its newest partners in the movement to end malaria. The organizations will work together to raise awareness among millions of Broadway fans about how they can help stop malaria, a disease spread by a single mosquito bite that kills a child every 45 seconds in Africa.

“We’re thrilled to have Disney’s The Lion King, the Nederlander Organization, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS join Nothing But Nets to help save lives from malaria,” said the UN Foundation’s Vice President of Global Partnerships, Elizabeth Gore. “In five years, the Nothing But Nets campaign has brought together the world’s largest group of partners and grassroots supporters to send nets to save lives from malaria; today we’re excited to bring that buzz to the Broadway community.”

To date, hundreds of thousands of Nothing But Nets supporters have raised nearly $40 million to send more than 6 million nets, to help families across Africa live healthy lives free from malaria.

The Lion King has connected millions of Americans to Africa. It’s fitting that this story gives its fans an opportunity to help fight malaria—a leading cause of death among children on the continent. Tom Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical Group, remarked: “We welcome the Nothing But Nets campaign to The Lion King in celebration of their fifth anniversary and in recognition of their life saving efforts to prevent the spread of malaria in Africa.”

This week, the partners kick off weekly giveaways through their social media channels to raise awareness and funds, leading up to a landmark fundraising appeal on World Malaria Day in April 2012, in association with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

“When my grandfather founded the Nederlander Company in 1912, hundreds of people were still dying from malaria around the U.S. every year,” said James L. Nederlander, President of the Nederlander Organization. “We’ve proven that we can beat malaria in this country, but we need to keep going until all families are safe from this preventable disease. We’re proud to join Nothing But Nets to raise awareness and send life-saving nets to families in Africa.”

Anyone can be a Champion in the fight against malaria. This partnership will spread the buzz on Broadway and across the country—from students to CEOs—that it takes just $10 to send a net and save a life. A $10 donation helps purchase a long-lasting, insecticide-treated net, delivers it to a family in Africa, and educates communities on its importance and use. To learn more, visit www.NothingButNets.net.

Tweet me: Malaria kills. @TheLionKing is biting back with @NothingButNets @NederlanderBway and @BCEFA! http://ow.ly/7jsME

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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 columnist Rick Reilly, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006.  Campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, The people of The United Methodist Church, and Major League Soccer’s MLS W.O.R.K.S. 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.

About the United Nations Foundation 
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities.  We build and implement public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and work to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.  Through our campaigns and partnerships, we connect people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems.  These campaigns focus on reducing child mortality, empowering women and girls, creating a new energy future, securing peace and human rights, and promoting technology innovation to improve health outcomes.  These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

About the Nederlander Organization
The Nederlander Organization is a family company prominent for three generations in management and operation of theatres and the production and presentation of distinguished entertainment. Under the guidance of Chairman, James M. Nederlander and President, James L. Nederlander, the company owns/operates nine Broadway theatres in New York and a chain of legitimate theatres and amphitheaters around America and in London. The Nederlanders are also prolific, award-winning producers of Broadway and touring productions including Annie, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, La Cage aux Folles, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Me and My Girl, Movin’ Out, Noises Off, Peter Pan, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, The Will Rogers Follies, West Side Story and many others.

About Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS 
Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised over $195 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses. BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors Fund, including The HIV/AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic and more.  BC/EFA also awards annual grants to more than 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide. For more information, visit BroadwayCares.org.