My birthday is almost here. I'm so excited to be a year older, and I know I'll regret saying that when I'm 40. Last year for my 16th birthday, I raised $46 through my charity:water birthday campaign. It was more than I had expected to raise. Raising that much brought me so much joy and happiness, to know that I am changing the world: one donation at a time. It felt so good to help, that I've decided to do it again this year. I recently learned that millions of kids around the world don't live to see their fifth birthday because they don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. This year I'm really thankful to have lived another happy, healthy year. But there are still children out there dying because of unsafe drinking water. We can change that.

I'm asking for my age in dollars from everyone I know. Even $5 or $1 would make the biggest difference. Every penny of the money raised will directly fund clean water projects in developing countries. Even better, charity: water will show us exactly which projects we funded once they've been fully completed (which takes about 18 months). That means we'll know the locations and names of the communities we helped.

Help me reach my goal. Please donate to my birthday campaign!