Dear friends,

This July 6th, I'm turning 28. I usually don't ask for presents or to buy me beer but you all are so lovely, you do it anyway. This year I’ve decided to make an exception and ask all my friends and family to donate to charity: water and give clean water to people who need it, instead of gifts over Facebook or beer :)

Often we worry about so many problems in our lives that we tend to forget how lucky we are. Almost a billion people on the planet don’t yet have access to clean drinking water - something that I find very hard to digest. 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; something that guys at charity:water are trying to do & something that I've been supporting.

I can't think of a better way to celebrate than making people smile! Please consider giving really ANYTHING you can to help me give the folks their life's most basic need. Don't forget that most often your employer may match the contribution doubling what you give!!

Please help me make this birthday my best ever!