When I went to Africa for the first time, I found myself face to face with the global water crisis for the first time. I saw women and children walking along the roads, carrying heavy jars/buckets/jerry cans to and from a far off contaminated water source. I watched a cow urinate in a pool of water while a little child was filling up his water bottle in the same pool. I saw sick children with diseases that were the result of the contaminated water they were consuming. It was heartbreaking.

I returned home and quickly got involved with the global water crisis through advocating, fundraising, and volunteering. I realized just how much of a luxury having clean water at an arms length was.

But many people around the world don’t have that luxury. Every day, about 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

I started this fundraising campaign to help charity: water build these types of projects around the world, and I'm looking for anyone who can help me.

For my golden birthday, I want to provide 50 people access to clean, safe drinking water. Instead of presents and gifts for my birthday, what if everyone gave $26 as a gift for my 26th birthday?

100% of the money will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.

Together, let's make a difference in the global water crisis!