It's that time of year again... For the third year in a row, I'm raising money to help fund fresh water wells in parts of the world where there is no clean water. I have so much. I want to celebrate and remember that and give thanks for all that I have in this way, by giving to others. I hope that you will join me in celebrating my 27th birthday by donating to this important cause.

I started a little early (my birthday is on September 10th) because my friend wanted to use her birthday to help my campaign. Thanks Cassandra!

Here are some facts about the water crisis and why it's important to help out.

There are a billion people living without clean water. That's one in eight of us. Four Septembers ago, charity:water asked friends to give up their birthdays and ask for donations instead of gifts. They used 100% of the money raised to build water projects. They have now helped over a million people get clean water.

charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. They use 100% of public donations to directly fund sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person clean water for 20 years.

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies aren't strong enough to fight diarrhea, dysentery and other illnesses. 90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygenic living conditions are to children under five years old. Many of these diseases are preventable. The UN predicts that one tenth of the global disease burden can be prevented simply by improving water supply and sanitation.

Follow this link for more information on charity:water's 'Born in September' campaign: http://www.charitywater.org/september/