Signed by Jessica and Andrea La Mesa, Co-CEOs at The Life You Can Save
This year has been challenging for global health and development. Recent funding cuts from governments around the world have put us at risk of losing many years of progress in the fight against extreme poverty. The stakes have never been higher, and the need for action has never been more urgent.
Yet in the face of these challenges, people have stepped up to the plate.
Donors have taken action. Our recommended nonprofits have continued their life-saving work with unwavering commitment. Our volunteers have contributed countless hours. The team and partners have moved quickly to protect as much progress as possible. Together, this community has worked to ensure that hard-won gains aren’t lost.
Our Volunteers: The Heart of Our Work
Throughout 2025, volunteers have been essential to our mission in ways both visible and behind-the-scenes. They’ve contributed ideas that shaped our strategy, created content that strengthened donor relationships, supported critical research and evaluation work, managed consulting projects, and stepped in wherever they were needed most.
We’re deeply grateful to Alexandra Million, Laura Gruszka, Jake Sherman, Richard Ciccarone, Justina Sosnovske, Joelle Swarner, James Rickman, Amanda Warner, and Amber Earles for their dedication and contributions to our work this year.
We’d also like to thank Nerissa Schwartz, Dr. Henry Howard, Glenn Membrey, Sarah Thomson, Su Ann Khoo, Lea McBride, Raydon McCready, Jeff Harris, and Kalle Marsal for their invaluable support.
This year, we also partnered with EY-Parthenon, Bain & Company, and L.E.K. Consulting, whose teams offered pro bono consulting hours to work on strategic projects that have strengthened our operations and long-term planning.
We’re grateful to our pro bono legal counsel – Herbert Smith Freehills in Australia and Greenberg Traurig in the United States – for their expertise and guidance throughout the year.
Moving Forward Together
We’re confident about what lies ahead. We have a strong foundation and a strong donor base. Our partners are prepared to continue growing our impact in 2026, because the need is still present. There are still many highly effective programs in need of funding, and hundreds of thousands of people who deserve the opportunity to live a dignified, healthy life and have access to opportunities like education and economic development.
To our own team: thank you for your work, diligence, and speed in continuing to adapt in this changing environment. Your commitment has made all the difference.
The progress we’ve made together – and will continue to make – is only possible because of this community. Thank you for stepping up when it mattered most.
We wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season.
