Madness Against Malaria Announces Tournament Winners

NEW YORK; April 19, 2007 — Madness Against Malaria (MAM), a unique international online fund- and awareness-raising initiative modeled after the NCAA college basketball tournament, today announced the winners of its fundraising tournament. The team that won the championship round, Beantown Beatdown of the ‘Squiter, was awarded the Malaria Cup. The Malaria Prize was awarded to Team USA, which raised the most money, $14,402.50, during the course of the entire tournament. In total, more than 2,600 people donated to MAM to raise $90,589, 100 percent of which will be used to purchase and distribute 18,117 nets.

The goal of MAM, which launched in September 2006, is to raise funds and awareness to combat malaria, which despite being fully preventable and curable, kills 1-3 million people each year—70% of whom are children under the age of five.

All of the funds raised through MAM will be used to purchase life-saving long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets (LLINs), which cost just $5 apiece and are extremely effective at preventing malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes.

From September 1, 2006 to February 28, 2007, 121 teams competed to raise the most money for nets. Then, on March 1, the 64 teams that raised the most funds were paired off to compete “knock-out style” against each other for one week. The teams that raised the most money advanced to the next rounds – the “Sweet 16,” “Elite Eight,” “Final Four” and the Championships, deemed the “Mad Bowl.”

Beantown Beatdown of the ’Squiter and Team USA competed in the “Mad Bowl,” together raising more than $6,500 during the battle for first place.

“It's impressive to see how much support MAM has received - not just from the 121 teams that joined, but also from friends, families and other concerned individuals,” said hedge fund manager and philanthropist Lance Laifer, who co-founded MAM along with Rob Mather of the World Swim For Malaria Foundation (WSMF). “I congratulate Beantown Beatdown and Team USA on their wins, and thank everyone who participated and helped save lives.”

Beantown Beatdown of the 'Squiter was established by the Boston University School of Public Health Rotaract Club. The club is comprised of Boston University students dedicated to service-oriented activities, with a focus on public health issues like malaria. The team was the 31st ranked team at the end of the regular MAM season, but pulled off a series of upsets to land in the “Mad Bowl.” A last-round surge in donations to the team helped it secure the championship.

“Raising funds and awareness to eradicate malaria is an extremely important cause that we are proud to support as part of the MAM initiative,” said Jessica Kraft, BUSPH Rotaract Club member and captain of Beantown Beatdown of the ‘Squiter, who contracted malaria while living in Mozambique as a member of the Peace Corps. “We are all connected to this disease, as the impact of malaria devastates many parts of our increasingly interconnected world. I commend Lance and Rob for starting this wonderful organization, and hope we can soon be living in a malaria-free world.”

Team USA was sponsored by Dukas Public Relations (DPR), a New York-based public relations firm. Team members and contributors include the employees of DPR, and many of the firm’s clients – Michael H. Steinhardt, the legendary hedge fund manager and philanthropist; Phoenix Ancient Art, one of the world’s foremost dealers of ancient art from Western Civilization; Blue Mountain Capital Management, a prominent hedge fund; and The Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association, an alternative investment education provider.

“DPR and its clients are truly honored to be part of such a wonderful initiative,” said Richard Dukas, president and founder of DPR. “It is so important to raise awareness about such an easily preventable disease. I offer my congratulations to Beantown Beatdown of the ‘Squiter. They were great opponents, and I applaud their efforts.”

Though the tournament is over, MAM is still collecting donations. To contribute, visit www.madnessagainstmalaria.com.