The Seattle Sounders FC and the United Nations Foundation have teamed up on a six-week fundraising campaign to help raise money and awareness for the Nothing But Nets campaign-a global, grassroots initiative to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Sounders FC owner Drew Carey and midfielder Sanna Nyassi are the honorary co-chairs of the fundraising initiative which runs from May 1 to June 10.

Long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets are one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of malaria. A $10 donation allows Nothing But Nets to purchase a net, deliver it to a family, and educate on its use. Fans who donate $30 or more will receive a limited edition Drew Carey bobblehead.

The team became more familiar with the impact of malaria last spring when Nyassi, a native of Gambia, shared his own story about contracting the disease at age 16.  Nyassi was fortunate to survive.

“I was alarmed to learn that malaria is a leading killer of children in Africa and even more surprised to learn I know someone who had been diagnosed with the disease,” said Carey. “So it was easy for me to say yes when I was approached about doing a bobblehead to help raise money and awareness to combat this disease.”

Carey hopes Nyassi’s story along with additional League-wide efforts to support Nothing But Nets leading up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will raise more awareness and commitments to keep up the fight against malaria.

“As a grassroots campaign, Nothing But Nets counts on its partners and supporters to spread the buzz about saving lives through malaria prevention,” said campaign director Adrianna Logalbo. “We are grateful to the Sounders FC for helping us raise funds and awareness to send nets and save lives.”

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. It costs just $10 to provide a long-lasting insecticide-treated bed net to prevent this deadly disease.   To date, Nothing But Nets has raised more than $30 million and distributed over 3 million nets to protect children and families in Africa. One bed net can protect a family of four for up to five years.