VOICE-OF-AWAIS.BLOGSPOT:America has a habit of making a splash at the United Nations.
In this case, we're talking about TV star America Ferrera and her cast mates who have been busy at the United Nations shooting tonight's two-hour season premiere of Ugly Betty.
Yesterday, some of the cast took time out from their busy schedules to talk about the show's new collaboration with Nothing But Nets. Judith Light, Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz (right) unveiled their new campaign, and the org will be featured prominently in Friday, October 16's show. In the episode, Betty Suarez (played by the lovely America Ferrera) pitches an article to her boss at MODE Magazine, playing up the fashion angle: Not hairnets or fishnets; bed nets.
“We love that Ugly Betty is using the fashion bug to help stomp out the deadly bug, the malaria-carrying mosquito,” said Adrianna Logalbo, Director of Nothing But Nets in a statement. “Betty is the perfect TV character to help us spread the buzz about the importance of malaria prevention in Africa. Her determination to address the issue reminds us of the hundreds of thousands of Nothing But Nets supporters who are raising awareness and funds to send nets and save lives. We hope Ugly Betty viewers will join the effort!”
Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria -- a preventable disease -- so with the help of organizations like Sports Illustrated, VH1 and, yes, The National Basketball Association's NBA Cares program, Nothing But Nets has given over 2.8 million insecticide-treated bed nets to at-risk communities and taught them how to use them. Bed nets can prevent 50 to 90 percent of malaria cases.
Malaria doesn't just affect children, either. It infects 500 million people per year and kills over 1 million -- 90 percent of those deaths are in Africa -- and those who do survive often suffer permanent physical and mental impairments which put immense pressure on their already-struggling health care systems and economies.
Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly heard about the malaria crisis back in 2005 and asked his readers to each donate at least $10, which is all it costs to send a net and provide the necessary education for using it. Inspired by Reilly, the United Nations Foundation created Nothing But Nets in February 2006 -- and the organization's overhead costs are completely funded by the United Nations Foundation, so every cent of each $10 donation goes directly to the cause.
Will someone call America Ferrera and tell her she'll be playing the role of Rick Reilly tonight? Hope she's got on the right pair of traveling pants! (From "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" ... the pants give you confidence ... oh, nevermind.)
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