Church leaders use George Clooney's malaria to promote charity initiative

George Clooney - Church Leaders Use Clooney's Malaria Saga To Promote Charity Initiative

24 January 2011

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GEORGE CLOONEY's recent malaria scare has prompted a massive print ad campaign for a U.S. religious group's initiative to stamp out the disease in parts of Africa.

The quick thinkers at The People of the United Methodist Church have jumped on Clooney's health crisis, which he revealed during a chat with newsman Piers Morgan last week (ends21Jan11), and used it to boost their charity coffers.

In a full page ad, taken out in many U.S. newspapers on Monday (24Jan11), the charity bosses write, "Not everyone is as lucky as George Clooney."

They add, "George Clooney's recent experience with malaria has made the disease a more high-profile issue than it was just a few days ago. Malaria is killing a child in Africa every 45 seconds, yet most of the world doesn't know.

"Unlike the 800,000 people that die every year from malaria, Clooney has made a full recovery. We believe that malaria can be eliminated by 2015, just as it was in the U.S. years ago."

The ad concludes with, "Between now and World Malaria Day, April 25, 2011, we are asking as many people as possible to support the cause by hosting a malaria house party or make a donation to save lives."