Birthdays are difficult for me.

On March 17, 2011, my biological father passed away. It was my 16th birthday. Although given beautiful parties, well-wishes, St. Patty's festivities and love---so much--my heart has never been able to celebrate that day since. For me, it is dark. It's a confusing, frustrating day. I see tears and emptiness. I see the color gray, not green. And lately, I feel like I am mourning David's loss for the first time in my life, searching for closure. My heart and the Lord told me I needed to do something.

I wanted my birthday to have a meaning.

God has blessed me in so many ways. genuine friendships, good health, a loving family--including a friend named Jeffrey that became my father when I was 10 years old. And clean water.

Many of us have no idea what it's like to be thirsty.

But many people around the world don’t have that luxury. Every day, about 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

100% of the money will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.

I joined the mission for clean water 4 years ago, and I won't stop until it ends. If you can, help me honor David. Help me serve those who deserve more. Help me fight for clean water, for everyone.

Let's make St. Patrick's day more than "lucky"; let's make it count.