Warriors Star Stephen Curry Speaks At White House In Support Of President Obama's Malaria Initiative
WASHINGTON (CBS SF) – Golden State Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry paid a special visit to the White House on Wednesday, addressing dignitaries in support of the United Nations Foundation Nothing But Nets campaign.
The global, grassroots campaign aims to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, the campaign was founded in 2006, following a column Reilly wrote for Sports Illustrated.
In it, he detailed that it only costs $10 to cover the purchase, distribution and education to ensure that a bednet makes it into a mother's hands, into a home, and over a bed to save the live of the child sleeping in it.
Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the movement, and the campaign has raised more than $50 million and helped deliver more than 7.5 million bednets to families in need.
.@StephenCurry30 discusses his work on #malaria w/ @nothingbutnets at @WhiteHouse event for @PMIgov. #PMIstrategy pic.twitter.com/EJ0TiWPM7A
— RBM Partnership (@endmalaria) February 25, 2015
During his time at Davidson College, Curry's roommate Bryant Barr introduced him to the Nothing But Nets campaign and he has been a champion of the cause ever since. When he entered the NBA, Curry started his own campaign to benefit the cause, calling it the Three for Three Challenge, where he donates three bednets for every three-pointer he makes during the season.
"I am honored to support the Nothing But Nets campaign for the third season in a row to continue to help raise awareness and provide bednets to protect families from malaria," said Curry before the 2014-15 season. "This has been an issue close to my heart since my days at Davidson, and I am grateful that the Warriors organization is helping me once again this season to give to such an important cause."
.@StephenCurry30: "we're fortunate enough to have a platform w @NBA to raise awareness about #malaria" #PMIstrategy pic.twitter.com/cxY3G7R01W
— U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) (@PMIgov) February 25, 2015
While at the White House on Wednesday, Curry said that "as a father, I feel a responsibility to protect children and families from malaria."
Curry also met President Obama in the Oval Office. According to the Bay Area News Group, a team spokesman said the conversation centered around Curry's head coach, Steve Kerr and his teammates.