Every single one of my birthdays has been about me and about material things and what I GET for my birthday.

So this year, I'm giving my birthday up. I'm turning 24 years old on May 19th this year. And to me, that seems old, but to think that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water.

Instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $1,000.00 or more from everyone I know - and every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater wells in developing nations.

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; it's to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billion living without it. I want to make my birthday have an impact this year.

My goal is to raise $1000 by my birthday, May 19th. Please join me.

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.