Southwestern College held a fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 11, for the Nothing but Nets campaign.  Julie Wilke, AmeriCorps Vista, reports that $2,400 was raised.
           
Donations came from a matching grant from within the United Methodist Church, organizations on campus, and attendees of the Southwestern College vs. Ottawa University basketball games.
           
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria. Inspired by sports 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.     
           
Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets are one of the most cost-effective methods of preventing malaria, a leading killer of children. They create a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of malaria transmissions occur.  One bed net can protect a family of four, and lasts up to five years.  It costs $10 to purchase, deliver, and educate the recipient on its proper use.