American Idol Spotlights Malaria Crisis During Idol Gives Back, April 9, On FOX

American Idol Spotlights Malaria Crisis During Idol Gives Back, April 9, On FOX

Malaria No More to Continue Idol's Fight against Malaria

NEW YORK, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- American Idol and FOX announced that this year's Idol Gives Back, airing Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, will raise awareness and funds to fight malaria in Africa for the second year in a row as part of its star-studded event.

Malaria No More is honored to once again be named a beneficiary of Idol Gives Back, which last year raised more than $76 million, including $9 million for Malaria No More and over $8 million for other malaria-related causes.

In 2007, funds raised for Malaria No More by Idol fans and corporate sponsor ExxonMobil provided life-saving bed nets to more than one million mothers and children in Angola, Mali, Madagascar, Uganda and Zambia.

Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease that claims over one million lives every year; an African child dies every 30 seconds of the disease.

Malaria No More and Idol stars have worked closely to combat malaria over the last year. In June, Melinda Doolittle and Malaria No More joined First Lady Laura Bush in Zambia to distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Last month, 2007 Idol winner Jordin Sparks joined President and Mrs. Bush in Ghana to perform and highlight malaria-control efforts.

Former Idol finalist Elliott Yamin traveled to Angola this month to see malaria programs sponsored by Malaria No More and ExxonMobil, a sponsor of Idol Gives Back 2007.

"I was shocked to learn of the devastation caused by malaria," said Sparks. "It's incredible what a difference a simple mosquito net can make in the life of a child."

"Idol Gives Back will let Americans know what they can do to help in the fight against malaria," said Kate Campana, Managing Director of Malaria No More. "When a $10 bed net saves a life, every Idol fan can be a hero."

In addition to Malaria No More, Idol Gives Back will raise funds for the Children's Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Save the Children and the Children's Health Fund.

19 Entertainment/Jive Records artist Jordin Sparks and former American Idol finalists Melinda Doolittle and Elliott Yamin are available for interviews upon request. Please contact Martin Edlund at 212 710 5891 or Martin.Edlund@malarianomore.org.

About Malaria No More

Malaria No More's mission is simple: to end deaths due to malaria. Malaria No More works to raise the profile of the disease among the public, policymakers, and businesses, while engaging the private sector to provide life-saving mosquito nets and other critical interventions to families in Africa. For more information please visit www.MalariaNoMore.org.

About Idol Gives Back

The brainchild of Simon Fuller, Idol Gives Back has been recognized as a life-changing program, earning praise from many of the world's best known figures including President George W. Bush, HRH Prince Charles and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Last season, Idol Gives Back garnered a prestigious Governor's Award Emmy and raised more than $76 million for charity. The star-studded special featured performances from the American Idol stage, where Ryan Seacrest hosted alongside judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.

Source: Malaria No More

CONTACT: Martin Edlund of Malaria No More, +1-212-710-5891 or
martin.edlund@MalariaNoMore.org

Web site:

http://www.malarianomore.org/

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