All of my birthdays have always been about me. I always felt like my birthday was the most important day of the year next to Christmas and my mom's birthday (hey, I can't compete with the birth our our Lord and Savior and the most spectacular woman to ever walk on this earth, lol).

This year, I don't want it to be about me so...I'm giving up my birthday.

I'm turning 24 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $10, $24 (for my age) or more from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater wells for people in developing nations.

I've set my goal for $100 just because my birthday is coming up so soon, but my campaign will be open until December. I may even switch it over later and ask for donations instead of Christmas presents.

A billion people in the world are living without clean water - but how much are they really living? Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 45,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still walk hours each day to get dirty water to give to their families.

My birthday wish this year is not for more gifts I don't need; it's to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billions living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year.

For the past year, Charity: water has been an organization that is very close to my heart. Please join me in making a difference.

please note: Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to direct water projects costs, and each donation is "proved" and tracked to the village it helped when projects are complete.

Miracles & Blessings,
Ashley Danielle