Last year, as many of you may know, I got simultaneous itch to do two things on my birthday: walk (far, 26.5 miles in fact), and to do something good for the world. I asked for your support and help making my birthday awesome by supporting Doctors Without Borders (we raised well over $1000) or your favorite charity. You gave me something marvelous to think about as I walked and walked and walked.

I don't need stuff - I have enough of it. I'm blessed and feeling pretty privileged. Especially compared to the many millions of people who live in awful conditions - and the many millions who don't even have access to clean, sanitary water.

This year, I'm giving my birthday up.

I'm turning 39 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking you to give all of us the present of helping out Charity:Water so that they can continue helping people gain access to water. All of your donation would be going to build freshwater wells for people 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.

I'm committed. I'm donating, and I'm walking again - looking to walk 30 miles on March 15. I'll be contemplating you, the good we can do, and those that need our help.

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.