My birthday is around the corner. I don’t usually ask for presents, but this year I’ve decided to make an exception. I’m asking all my friends and family to donate to charity: water and give clean water to people who need it, instead of giving me gifts.

I've been monitoring charity: water since 2007, when I met with the founder at my church in New York City. I really like what charity: water had done during the past several years. Literally saving lives and thanks to the effort of folks at charity: water and technology, we get to monitor how our donations are being put to work. Check these videos out: http://www.charitywater.org/media/videos
My favorite are 2009 and 2011 videos.

Did you know that almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water? Every day, 5,000 kids die from water-related illnesses before they reach their fifth birthday. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

100% of every dollar you donate to my birthday campaign will be used to build clean water projects in developing countries. charity: water funds their operating costs separately through a group of private donors, so 100% of all public donations will go directly to people in need.

We cannot help save all of the one billion today but we can save 75 people with my pledge.

Help me make this birthday my best ever -- donate to my campaign!