All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. Stuff I don't want, stuff I definitely don't need.

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

I'm turning 26 years old, and instead of gifts, I'm asking for just $1 or more from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater projects for people in developing nations.

A billion people in the world are living without clean water - Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 30,000 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.

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. Just $20 is enough to provide one person with clean drinking water... can you imagine what we all could do together?

$26 is just a number for a goal. The more you're able to give, the more you will bless!

(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.)