WNBA All-Star Candace Parker and NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Lend Support for the Global Effort
NEW YORK, August 18, 2010 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced its support of the Measles Initiative. Established in 2001 by the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, the Measles Initiative represents one of the world’s most successful partnerships in public health, aiming to reduce global measles mortality through mass vaccination campaigns and by strengthening routine immunization overseas.
During the 2010 WNBA season, the Atlanta Dream, Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm will each host a special Vaccinate a Village Night to help expand awareness and education for the Measles Initiative. At each arena, efforts will include various on-court promotions, public announcements, and information booths providing fans with ways to get involved. WNBA Cares will also be making a donation of $25,000 to support the Measles Initiative, which will ensure the vaccination of the same number of children. With each dollar donated, the Measles Initiative can protect another child against measles.
“We’re proud to support the Measles Initiative,” said Kathy Behrens, NBA Executive Vice President, Social Responsibility & Player Programs. "It's important to provide education about this disease, and thanks to our players and teams, with Vaccinate a Village Night, we hope to bring more awareness about the issue to new audiences.”
Additionally, WNBA Cares will produce a nationally broadcast public service announcement (PSA) in support of this cause. The PSA will feature WNBA All-Star Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks, along with NBA Legend and Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, and will debut during the 2010 WNBA Playoffs.
”We are honored to have WNBA Cares by our side as the Measles Initiative enters its second decade of saving lives,” said David Meltzer, Senior Vice President of International Services with the American Red Cross. “Every day an estimated 450 people still die unnecessarily from measles. We are eager to mobilize WNBA athletes and fans to help curb this trend and defeat measles within our lifetime. This partnership is critical in ensuring the disease doesn’t rebound.”
While leveraging the expertise of leading health and humanitarian organizations, the Measles Initiative works closely with governments to help train local health workers, improve vaccine storage, promote safe injection practices, and develop laboratories and systems to identify disease outbreaks.
More than 700 million children in 60 countries have received a measles vaccination supported by the Measles Initiative, and largely as a result of its efforts, measles deaths have decreased by 78 percent, saving an estimated 4.3 million lives globally.*
Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, breast health awareness, youth and family development, and education.
For more information on WNBA Cares and the Measles Initiative, please visit: www.wnba.com/cares and www.measlesinitiative.org.
*Between 2000 and 2008.
About Measles
Measles is a highly-contagious virus, spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. When one person has measles, 90 percent of the people they come into close contact with will become infected, if they are not already immune. Being immune means someone has been vaccinated or has previously contracted the disease. The symptoms include a high fever, severe skin rash and cough. Measles does not cause death directly, but it weakens the immune system and opens the door to secondary health problems, such as pneumonia, blindness, diarrhea, and encephalitis. Approximately 30 percent of reported measles cases have one or more complications. These debilitating effects are most common in children under five and adults over twenty. Poor children are more likely to be malnourished and have severe complications from measles. Even if a child recovers, he or she can be left with permanent disabilities.
About the WNBA
The WNBA is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. Now in its 14
Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.
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Contact:
Dina Skokos, (212) 407-8840 or dskokos@nba.com
Bryan Lam (212) 407-8679 or blam@nba.com
Abi Weaver (202) 303-6820 or weaverab@usa.redcross.org
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