Dwayne De Rosario didn't have a long off-season. Shortly after De Rosario helped the Dynamo win MLS Cup 2007, De Rosario and his wife traveled with other MLS stars to Mali on behalf of MLS W.O.R.K.S and the United Nations Nothing But Nets campaign. In mid January, De Ro teamed up again with fellow stars at the Kick-it 3v3 World Championships in Orlando, Florida, to raise awareness for Nothing But Nets. Joining De Ro were Chicago Fire midfielders Diego Gutierrez and Bakary Soumare, along with Kevin Hartman of the Kansas City Wizards and Jose Burciaga of the Rapids. The players held an interactive skills demonstration during the tournament at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex, and also hosted a reception at Epcot Center.
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa.
While malaria has largely been eradicated in the United States, between 350 and 500 million people are still infected worldwide every year, and of those, more than one million die. Ever 30 seconds a child in Africa dies from a malaria infection transmitted by a mosquito bite, but they wouldn't have to if they slept under a long-lasting insecticide-treated net that prevents mosquitoes from biting. A $10 donation to Nothing But Nets covers the cost to purchase and distribute a net and educate on its proper use.
