Baker students and basketball fans learned a little money could go a long way when it comes to helping those less fortunate through the Nothing But Nets campaign.
University Minister Ira DeSpain said Nothing But Nets is designed to protect families in Africa from contracting the disease malaria. For a donation of $10, the program is able to purchase an insecticide-treated net, which helps protect a family for four years.
The NBA, Sports Illustrated and the United Methodist Church are all sponsors of this charity.
“The goal is for malaria to be eradicated from Africa by the year 2020,” DeSpain said.
Baker University worked in conjuncture with Old Mission United Methodist Church in organizing Nothing But Nets night during Baker's home opening basketball game against Friends University Nov. 10. <br/>DeSpain said the event raised $3,600, which means 360 homes will be protected.DeSpain said the event raised $3,600, which means 360 homes will be protected.
DeSpain said the event raised $3,600, which means 360 homes will be protected.
“Just ten dollars saves a family from a totally preventable disease,” DeSpain said.
Butch Ritter, senior minister at Old Mission United Methodist Church, has been with the church for eight years. Ritter said he got ahold of DeSpain with the idea of the Nothing But Nets basketball game. <br/>"It seemed like such a natural fit," Ritter said."It seemed like such a natural fit," Ritter said.
“It seemed like such a natural fit,” Ritter said.
Ritter said 150 shirts were made for the game and the players wore them during warm-ups.
Ritter said one idea he has for next year is opening the Nothing But Nets night to the Heart of America conference.
“It’s so easy to save somebody’s life,” Ritter said. “People want to help out and get involved in a good cause.”
Sophomore John Babb is the Recreational Coordinator for the Student Activities Council.
Babb took the Nothing But Nets cause to the next level by helping to organize a basketball tournament and a free-throw contest on Nov. 8 at the Baldwin Intermediate Center.
Babb said the event had a decent turnout and raised $88 for the charity. He said he has some ideas on how to make the event better next year.
“We could schedule it (the basketball tournament and free-throw contest) sooner so we could get a better venue because that middle school gym was tiny,” Babb said.
