As some of you may know, my favorite book in the whole wide world is an illustrated children's book by Barbara Cooney, called "Miss Rumphius." As a girl, Alice Rumphius has two goals in life: to travel to faraway places and to come home someday to live by the sea. Her grandfather tells her that this is all well and good, but that there is a third thing she must do: she must do something to make the world a more beautiful place.

For literally as long as I can remember, I have been inspired by this book, and as I have grown into an adult, at first subconsciously and now overtly, I have found myself adopting Miss Rumphius' goals (although I would take living by a Great Lake if the sea is not available!).

Having my birthday in the spring, when the world awakes from the winter has always been special, and this year no less than any of the 28 others, I'm super excited to start another 365 days of the life I love, and incredibly grateful that I can do it in health and safety, surrounded by people I love. Maybe this year, you will help me to make the world a more beautiful place.

Of the 1 billion or so people around the world without access to clean water, $1000.00 can help bring it to 50 of them. I'd really appreciate it if you'd help me to this goal with a gift in my honor for my birthday this year. If you want to be cute, pledge $29 for my 29th birthday! If you want to be generous, pledge more. Even if you only donate the $5 you'd spend buying and mailing me a card, that will help!

-Annalese