Contact: Larry Ross, 972-267-1111, x210; Kristin Cole, 972-267-1111, x215, kristin@alarryross.com, both for Dr. Rick Warren

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Rick Warren, author of the best-selling The Purpose Driven Life and founding pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif. will participate in the White House Summit on Malaria on Dec. 14 in Washington. The White House Summit on Malaria will bring together international experts, corporations and foundations, African civic leaders, and faith-based organizations to raise awareness of malaria, and to mobilize a grassroots effort to save millions of lives in Africa.

"Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease," said Mrs. Laura Bush. "Each of us has a responsibility to end the suffering caused by this devastating disease -- because every life matters. And all of us can do something to help -- governments, businesses, philanthropies, churches, schools. Every one of us matters in the fight against malaria."

Defeating malaria is an achievable goal. One child dies in Africa every 30 seconds from malaria. At least 1 million infants and children under five in sub-Saharan Africa die each year from the mosquito-borne disease. While this disease is one of the greatest threats to human and economic welfare on earth, malaria is both preventable and treatable if addressed properly and quickly.

The White House Summit on Malaria will focus on three themes: The Challenge of Malaria in Africa; The Power of Public/Private Partnerships; and Growing the Grassroots.

The Summit will also highlight the many organizations at work in the fight against malaria, including Malaria No More, which is helping to mobilize new private sector support. Malaria No More is a non-profit organization that is challenging America's corporations and foundations, non-governmental and non- profit organizations, individuals and America's young people to save lives and build a bridge between peoples.

"With more than 2 billion members worldwide, the Church has the largest distribution network on the planet," said Dr. Warren.

Addressing the role of the worldwide Church in combating this preventable disease, Dr. Warren speaks to international government, business and ministry leaders regarding the progression of the P.E.A.C.E. plan, a worldwide effort to mobilize 1 billion church members to address the five biggest global problems that encompass leadership, finance, health, education and faith. The P.E.A.C.E. plan is currently being tested in more than 80 countries through Planting churches, Equipping servant leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick and Educating the next generation.

In June 2005, President Bush announced The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), a five-year, $1.2 billion program that challenges the private sector to join the U.S. Government in combating malaria in 15 of the hardest-hit countries in Africa. The initiative aims to cut malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in these countries.

Through PMI partnerships working in the first three focus countries -- Tanzania, Angola and Uganda -- aid from the American people has already reached approximately 6 million Africans. In June 2006, Mrs. Laura Bush announced four additional PMI focus countries -- Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Senegal -- that would receive long-lasting mosquito nets, anti-malarial drugs and help conducting mosquito-spraying programs.

Summit Partners include The Office of the Coordinator for the President's Malaria Initiative at USAID, the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. State Department and Malaria No More.

For more information, please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/malaria, http://www.fightingmalaria.gov/ or http://www.purposedriven.com/peace.