Written by Ginger Keller-Ferguson, MBA
Let’s be honest. Maintaining a positive outlook for future is easier said than done these days.
Xenophobia continues to fan the flames of racism. Legislation requiring insurers to cover preexisting conditions has been declared unconstitutional. The executive branch is at all-out war with the news media. Hatred for those with differing opinions pervades social media. As a society, we seem to have lost the ability to engage in civil discourse on any topic, from abortion to what we choose to pack in our kids’ lunches.
It would be easy to go on. We could keep listing all the societal ills and challenges facing our nation. But rather than focus on the negative, let’s wrap up 2018 by focusing on the good. The positive. The things that are truly making a difference in the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.
- In the last 20 years, the number of people living on less than $1.90 per day has dropped by one billion. (That’s billion with a b.)
- The end of AIDS/HIV is within sight. Deaths related to AIDS have fallen by more than 50 percent since peaking in 2004.
- Nearly 300 million Americans are covered by some form of health insurance.
- Polio has been virtually eradicated. There were 22 reported cases in 2017.
- The world’s renewable energy capacity has doubled since 2008.
In very large part, these positive outcomes are due to the world’s nonprofits, NGOs, faith-based and grassroots organizations. Without the tireless devotion of these organizations – organizations just like yours – these stats would look much different and not in a good way.
For the change you’ve already helped bring about and for that which is yet to come, we thank you. Social change can indeed happen with a simple idea. It just takes the right person armed with the right vision and right tools to make it happen.
We look forward to seeing what you will achieve in 2019, and we’ll be right here to lend a hand if you need us.
Happy holidays and best wishes for the coming year!