 President Bush and Tamkia Raymond NBAE/Getty |
With the help of American Idol singer Melinda Doolittle and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Charlie Villanueva, Raymond conducted a bed net demonstration for a group of young children.
As the president looked on, Raymond cited some of the statistics associated with malaria in Africa, noting that a child dies from the disease every 30 seconds, and that 25 million pregnant women risk severe illness and harm to their unborn children from a malaria infection.
Later, Raymond, Villanueva and Doolittle joined the president on stage as he spoke to a larger gathering about the importance of the United Nation Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, which the NBA and WNBA helped to found. President Bush recognized young boys and girls who had helped raise money to purchase bed nets.
A few days later, Raymond reflected on the experience.
What did you learn from the event?
“I learned how such a little bit of money can do so much to save a life. You think about the statistics. Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria. And every 10 dollars that you give can save two or three children in a bed net. That’s pretty amazing. Something so small can mean so much.”
Did it make you want to get more involved?
“Definitely. It’s something I want to get involved with, and it’s something I think anybody can do. Sometimes, there are things that are too big, that kids can’t get involved with. But kids can save money. If you save 10 dollars, you save three lives over there, or save a mother who is pregnant. I think it’s something that’s a little more tangible to young kids.”
Do you think sometimes professional athletes don’t realize how much of a difference they can make?
"Yes, and I think sometimes they get a little stingy with their money. They think every time someone comes with a hand open, it’s a lot of money. This is something very small. Sometimes, it’s just showing your face. You showing your face, people are going to pay attention, and the cause is bigger, and people want to give more. So I think sometimes we get a little stingy with our money and our time, and we don’t do the extra stuff."
You’ve met George Bush before. Do you ever get used to meeting the president of the United States?
"No. You can be joking around, and when a president comes into a room, and he has 50 people in his entourage behind him, and he’s shaking hands, it’s a pretty prestigious moment. It never gets old."
