It seems like every time I hear the news, it’s bad news. It’s not only depressing, it lacks perspective and is an injustice to all the people (like you) who are doing their part to make this world work for everyone.

Clearly there is so much bad and even sad news out there, but we are also making huge strides in our commitment to improve life for humanity.

This is the news I want to share with you because the support you are giving is a piece of it. The work we are doing is part of a global movement to create a world that works for everyone.

In 2000, 183 nations of the United Nations signed on to a historic agreement called the Millennium Development Goals, committing to eradicate extreme poverty by 2015.

And in the last 15 years the number of people living in poverty was cut in half, hunger was cut in half, 2.3 billion people got access to clean water, maternal mortality dropped by almost half, and infant mortality plummeted. Now 80% of girls around the world are in school (as opposed to only 50% in 2000). The number of new HIV infections has fallen by nearly 40% since 2000. And while the fights for gender and racial equality are still being fought, even those are better than before.

The really great news is that in 2015 the United Nations announced the next iteration: The Sustainable Development Goals. These 17 Global Goals lay out a vision for improving the lives of people all over the world even more by 2030.

The global community has taken on these goals in full force. Imagine a world that works for everyone. Just ask millennials, one of the most generous generations ever, and they’ll tell you this can happen. Most of them are working on it.

I share this news with you so you know your support is contributing to a much bigger global movement. In spite of all of the bad news in the world, there are also significant historic positive changes being made, and you are playing a role in this powerful transformation.

Thank you for doing your part.

This holiday season, I’m counting my blessings. You’re one of them. There are a lot of little kids out there thankful for you. Thanking you for caring about them even though they’re a stranger. I know you get fulfillment from helping them. They wouldn’t be who they are without you.

Maybe things aren’t so bad after all?