Every day, 1,400 kids under the age of 5 die from water-related illnesses. Will you help me change that?

My 40th birthday is today!!! I'm not usually excited about getting older, but this year I'm really thankful to have lived another happy, healthy year. I recently learned that millions of kids around the world don't live to see their fifth birthday because they don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. We can help change that. Will you partner with me to make a difference in a mother's life? A child's life? For a family?

I decided to give up my 40th birthday. I didn’t want any gifts, or a trip, or a spa day, etc. I have SO much! I gave up my birthday so that I could give everyone that I know the opportunity to love people on the other side of the world. People like you and me that want to have good health, a roof over their heads and most importantly for them…clean water. I’m asking for whatever you would like to give. $40 is a symbolic amount since I just turned 40 years old! However, any amount will help! Every penny of the money raised will directly fund a water project in ETHIOPIA. In 21 months, charity: water will show us exactly what they did with our money. I can’t wait to share that with you! Also, Keurig will match 100% of all of my donations!!!

My wonderful husband, Andy and I fasted our dinners for the past 40 days. We only drank water. It was definitely difficult for me to make dinner for my kids and then watch them eat. My stomach growled a lot! It was humbling time and reminded me that I can still drink water and eat when I wake up the next day. I used that time of hunger to pray for the people of Ethiopia. I know that I take clean water for granted and I thanked God every day that I had water to drink wherever I went.

Maddie, Emma and Tyler (my 3 kids) loved talking to people about the water crisis. They care because they know the facts. They know that they were born into a family that has access to clean water everyday and everywhere. They also know that there are children that were born into families that do not. This breaks their hearts and they want to make a difference!

I know that God has blessed me and my family in so many ways. Help me reach my goal to buy a well for families that don't have something that is so basic for us...clean water. Please donate to my birthday campaign! ~Caroline