THE LION KING and 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.