Sharon Stone v businessmen's basic instincts

It took just five minutes for a group of star-struck businessmen to pledge $1m (£540,000) to help fight malaria in the Third World, thanks to a little help from the Hollywood actress Sharon Stone. But it is taking them a little longer to deliver on their promises.

Nearly 18 months after Ms Stone announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF) that she was giving $10,000 to buy mosquito nets in Tanzania and implored those around her to do the same, most of the pledges have not been paid.

Although Ms Stone paid her donation immediately after the conference, most of the businessmen have been reluctant to cough up. Some even disappeared before officials could take down their names and the amounts they had pledged.

A senior official at the World Economic Forum admitted the pledges "definitely did not" raise $1m. "There was a show of hands, then it was a bit of a scramble getting the names down," he said. "Not everyone who raised their hand subsequently gave their name and details of their pledge to the WEF officials."

According to officials connected with the fund, the payment of pledges has "trickled in" over the past 18 months. By the time the World Economic Forum met again at Davos in January this year, just $250,000 of the promised $1m had been paid.

Unicef was forced to make up the shortfall, paying up-front for the promised mosquito nets. Subsequently, $1m was given to the government of Tanzania, which has used it to treat people in the two regions in the country worst affected by malaria.

Cindi Berger, a spokes-woman for Ms Stone, said the Basic Instincts star had been angry to discover that the pledges had not been fulfilled. "I am sure that they thought with their hearts when they raised their hands," she said. "Now they should be honourable and open up their wallets as they pledged to do so."