My 40th birthday is around the corner. I don’t usually ask for presents. In fact, I don't normally like to celebrate my birthday at all. However, 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.

My desire to help charity: water has become a very personal one. Let me explain ...

I had the chance to meet the founder of charity: water, Scott Harrison, at a small dinner party almost a year ago. I was immediately moved by his passion, dedication and mission. Shortly after that evening I asked Scott to come in to tell his incredibly moving speech to my team at WIRED and upon its completion ... there was not a dry eye in the house. Personally, I haven't cried that much since the final scene of Hoosiers!

Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to live a blessed life. I have an amazing family, wonderful friends and a career and a level of security that I could not be more thankful for. Truthfully, so many of my friends fall in to this category that it is almost unimaginable to think that while we pay $4.00 a bottle for water (and pursue our gluten free and Soul Cycle filled lives) that there are so many people on this planet that are lacking the most fundamental and important element in life - clean drinking water.

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.

I urge you to please help me make a difference by providing clean drinking water to someone in need. I urge you to take a moment to think about how your small donation can make a huge difference in someones life and I urge you to forgive my long-winded note. I would not have signed up fro this and asked you to help out if I did not think it was so vital and important.

Thank you for considering a donation to my campaign!