Friends & Family,

About 3 months ago, I attended a business-related event in Scottsdale, AZ. I watched this video: http://vimeo.com/6202666 & it changed my life. Although I've always thought of myself as a generous person, this video on charity : water gave me more passion and motivation than ever before. I strive everyday to make a difference, small or large; to make the world a better place.

We take things for granted everyday; smiles, hugs, kisses, food, WATER, gifts, presents...

All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. Stuff I don't want and stuff that I definitely don't need. So this year, I'm giving up my birthday, I'm giving up the gifts AND the presents.

On February 12, I'm turning 25 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $25 or more from everyone I know. Of this $25, EVERY penny is going towards building freshwater wells for people in developing nations.

A BILLION people in the world are living without clean water - but how much are they really living? Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 45,000 people will die this week alone. 45,000.... The lucky ones won't, but still walk hours each day to get DIRTY water to give to their families.

My birthday wish this year is not for more gifts I don't need; it's to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the BILLION living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year.

Please join me.

please note: Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to direct water projects costs, and each donation is "proved" and tracked to the village it helped when projects are complete.