Spread the Net is a charitable organization that aims to reduce malaria in African nations. It was co-founded by Rick Mercer, a Canadian satirist, and Belinda Stronach, a former Canadian Member of Parliament and philanthropist. A partnership with UNICEF Canada has allowed Spread the Net to achieve the goal of distributing 500,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to Liberia and Rwanda.[1] Spread the Net now works with its partners to combat malaria. The campaign has donated over 539,000 nets since its founding.[citation needed]
 | |
| Founder | Belinda Stronach and Rick Mercer |
|---|---|
| Location | |
Area served | Uganda, Rwanda, Liberia, Guinea |
| Website | spreadthenet |
History
editIn 2006, Rick Mercer and Belinda Stronach travelled to Africa along with Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the UN Millennium Project,[2][3] in preparation to co-host the Millennium Promise Convention in Montreal on November 9, 2006. At the convention, Mercer and Stronach, along with Jeffrey Sachs and Nigel Fisher, President and CEO of UNICEF Canada, announced their intention to begin the Spread the Net campaign and raise $5 million for insecticide treated bed nets to be given to children and pregnant women in Liberia and Rwanda.[4] One X One founder Joey Adler and Millennium Promise Conference founder Daniel Germain each gave $150,000 to the campaign at the conference.[5] The first order for 33,000 bed nets was made on March 28, 2007.[6]
By December 2011, Spread the Net achieved its founding goal; 500,000 nets distributed to pregnant women and children in Liberia and Rwanda.[citation needed] Spread the Net has teamed with Plan Canada, working together to deliver another 250,000 nets, this time to Guinea.[citation needed]
In 2012, Spread the Net partnered together with the Mosquitoes Suck Tour, a 60-minute performance act for high school students across Canada.[7]
Student Challenge
editIn 2007, Spread the Net started fund raising in Canadian Schools. Between 2007 and 2008 over 250 schools participated raising $300,000. The competition has been presented to schools across Canada, and the school that raises the most to donate would be visited by Rick Mercer.[8] The challenge includes post-secondary, secondary, and elementary school divisions, and one wild-card winner. In the 2010 edition, the challenge featured an additional twist by inviting schools in east to compete with their counterparts in the west, resulting in two post-secondary level winners.
Winners
edit
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Dalhousie University[9] |
| 2008 | Dalhousie University[10] |
| 2009 | John F. Ross Collegiate and Vocational Institute[11] |
| 2010 | Simon Fraser University[12] University of Ottawa[13] |
| 2011 | University of Northern British Columbia[14][15] Espanola High School[14] |
| 2012 | McGill University Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School[16] Lakefield Elementary School |
| 2013 | Algonquin College[17] Almonte and District High School[18] Pleasantdale School[19] |
| 2014 | Algonquin College[17] John F. Ross Collegiate and Vocational Institute Elbow Valley Elementary School |
| 2015 | Algonquin College John F. Ross Collegiate and Vocational Institute Kew Beach Junior Public School[20] |
| 2016 | Algonquin College Balmoral Hall School Macville Public School Central Algoma Secondary School |
| 2017 | Langara College Father Mercredi High School Beaverly Elementary R. A. Riddell School |
| 2018 | Dalhousie University Kincardine District Secondary School Holy Names High School Stewarttown Middle School |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Spread the Net High School Campaign
- ^ What is Spread the Net?
- ^ "Mission - The Earth Institute - Columbia University". www.earth.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
- ^ "Stronach joins Clinton at anti-poverty session". CTV News. November 9, 2006. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- ^ "Belinda Stronach and Rick Mercer launch anti-malarial bednet campaign:"Spread the Net" with UNICEF Canada" (Press release). UNICEF. November 9, 2006. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ "UNICEF: Spread the Net Announces First Purchase of 33,000 Anti- Malarial Bed Nets for Liberia Liberian President applauds Belinda Stronach, Rick Mercer and UNICEF Canada's Nigel Fisher for Spread the Net initiative". CCNMatthews Newswire. March 28, 2007.
- ^ "Fighting malaria a mission for David Peck | Humber Et Cetera". humberetc.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-02.
- ^ About the Spread the Net Student Challenge
- ^ "Spread the Net update". Dalhousie University News. February 23, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
- ^ Dal wins, mosquitos lose
- ^ Guelph high school leads the pack in Spread the Net campaign
- ^ "Mercer announces SFU Spread the Net wi". "SFU News Online. March 10, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ^ Generous biology students appear on The Rick Mercer Report
- ^ a b "Rick And The Spread The Net Student Challenge Winners". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18.
- ^ RMR: Rick and the Spread the Net Student Challenge Winners
- ^ Soon-to-be-closed PCVS wins Spread the Net Student Challenge
- ^ a b http://www.algonquincollege.com/public-relations/2014/03/11/algonquin-students-win-2013-14-spread-the-net-student-challenge/ [dead link]
- ^ ADHS Places 1st in Canada in the Spread the Net Challenge and Welcomes Rick Mercer!
- ^ Mercer visits Pleasantdale School
- ^ "Rick Mercer and Plan Canada announce Spread the Net winners - Plan International Canada".