More than a billion people on our planet are living without one thing I take for granted every day: clean water. While I can easily turn on my sink or shower and have as much clean water as I need, some people walk miles every day to get to the nearest source: a stagnant, parasite-infested stream or pond. They lug it back to their families. They suffer from diarrhea, worms and skin diseases because they can't wash themselves. 45,000 people die each day from waterborne illnesses.

This shouldn't happen. Clean water is a basic need, not a luxury. And what is really crazy is that the problem can so easily be remedied by building a well to serve an entire community for only $5000.

America spends around $500 billion a year on Christmas gifts. So for a tiny fraction of what we spend on things, we can provide clean water to hundreds of people.

My mission is to raise $500 by Christmas this year. 100% of every penny I raise will go directly to the water projects. And every project is "proved" using GPS technology and photos and put on Google Earth. Together, we'll be able to see the impact we've made.

So in an effort to redeem gift giving even in a small way, please consider helping me meet one of the most basic needs of humans around the world: a clean glass of water.

Thank you.