All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. Sometimes stuff I don't want, mostly stuff I don't REALLY need. And to be honest, I would have to think hard to remember what I got or what I did last year.

So this year, I'm giving my birthday up.

I'm turning 21 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $21 or more from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater wells for people in developing nations. Oh, boy....not another one of those things..right?

A billion people in the world are living without clean water - but how much are they really living? You know this, you've heard, you've seen the dramatic ads on TV and the articles online. Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 45,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still walk hours each day to get dirty water to give to their families. The water we use to shower a few flakes of dirt and dead skin off of us, to water our lawns, to wash our dishes, to clean our cars...this water is cleaner!

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.

I want my 21st birthday to be different...I've told a few of you that I wouldn't drink a drop of alcohol on my 21st birthday. Well that's all "look-at-me-make-an-assumption-defying-statement" and all...but this is really more important to me. We really have no concept of the struggles thousands go through everyday as we take our lives of many luxuries and conveniences for granted even so far as complaining about the most petty grievances.

Instead of getting more stuff (and trust me I want a lot of...stuff...this expensive camera, a mac, a roadbike, that beautiful girl over there)....instead, I want you, my friends and my family to join in ending the global water crisis or at least making a small dent and ultimately change a few lives.

Here are the facts:

$20 means one person can get clean water for 20 years.
$250 means two families of six can get clean water.
$5,000 means clean water for a community of 250.
I know you want to help. You know people who want to help. And now we can all help just a little instead of just shaking your head and saying, "Oh, that must be terrible...oh well...can't save 'em all!"

We've started something huge. charity: water is behind us. The millions of people without clean water are waiting for us.

Let's do this.

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.