Making poverty history

I got this email today from The ONE Campaign with some awesome news:

From: Susan McCue, ONE.org
Subject: You Did It

Dear ONE Member,

You did it. You were heard. You got results.

Last month, I became CEO of the ONE campaign. When I began this job, I knew we had a grassroots army 2.4 million members strong. And I knew the success of ONE depended on each of you. This week, you showed just how strong you are.

Thanks to your work, the U.S. Senate secured the $1 billion dollars in poverty fighting funds you sought, and they went a step further, allocating an additional $450 million in the fight to save hundreds of thousands of lives. Every ONE member made it happen.

Please take a moment to thank your senators for saving lives by advocating for this vital funding.
http://action.one.org/dia/organizationsONE/one/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1307&t=OneColumn.dwt

Having worked on Capitol Hill for a long time, I know first-hand the pressures on Congress for funding. Being heard amid the intense lobbying is hard. Many special interests have vast resources to break through. But millions facing life-threatening situations living in extreme poverty have no voice. You came together and spoke for them. You gave them a voice. Lives will be saved, and our country is stronger for your leadership.

After hearing that $1 billion dollars was at stake in December, ONE members sent over 200,000 letters to members of Congress urging them to sign on to Durbin-Brownback “Dear Colleague” letter. 42 senators signed on to these letters and gave our champions the leverage they needed to secure this life-saving funding.

When you take this opportunity to thank your Senators for their vote you will also be reminding them that the fight against extreme poverty matters to you and you want America to reach out and lead the fight.

Congratulations. I look forward to writing you again about our plans for the year ahead and the future of ONE. As we build from this success, we can change who gets heard in Washington and give voice to those most in need around the world. You did it.

Thank you,

Susan McCue, ONE.org

And so the world has just gotten a little bit better for some of those who are suffering the most. Food will reach the hungry, love will reach the hurting, medicine will reach the dying.