On Aug 31, 2010, our Center posted a blog (http://impct.info/aAQwcD) about a socially innovative project called PlayPumps. It was a project, funded and implemented in 2006, to help people in Africa pump their own water by using children's play as the water pump's prime energy source. It turns out the idea was not the greatest in practice because it caused a lot of problems for the people it was set up to serve. I have also learned about another socially innovative organization called A Spring of Hope, created by a Penn student (http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/article/students-well-doing), which builds wells in rural African schools for clean drinking water. My work has exposed me to the problems that many developing countries face due to lack of clean water - a resource that we have in abundance in the United States. I personally consume well over the recommended 64oz of water per day and I honestly can't imagine not being able to function without drinking water.

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

I'm turning 31 years old on 9/19, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $31 or more from everyone I know, or don't know yet but may come across this campaign via social networking. If 30 people donate $31, or 46 people donate $20, or 92 people donate $10, $919 will help to build freshwater wells for people in the Central African Republic.

A billion people in the world are living without clean water - millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. There are many great organizations that are working to shrink these numbers. I chose charity: water for two reasons: 1) Because of the work I'm involved in at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy. Two of charity: water's on-the-ground partners for other projects - Partners In Health (PIH) and International Rescue Committee (IRC) - have been profiled by our Center due to their effective models of service delivery. 2) Because I personally love the Birthday Campaign and missed the opportunity to participate last year for my 30th birthday.

This specific project's on-the-ground partner is Integrated Community Development International (ICDI): http://www.icdinternational.org/wells.html. I've set up google alerts so I can track news asssociated with this organization. ICDI has also partnered with Living Water Intn'l and Blood:Water Mission. I have set up google alerts for them as well.

These orgs can be followed on twitter & facebook:

@charitywater: http://www.twitter.com/charitywater
http://www.facebook.com/charitywater

@ICDI_Africa: http://twitter.com/ICDI_Africa
http://www.facebook.com/icdinternational

@BloodWater: http://twitter.com/bloodwater
http://www.facebook.com/bloodwatermission

@LivingWater: http://twitter.com/livingwater
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-Waters-The-Way-of-the-Master/56359678566

Please join me not only in this campaign but also in finding ways and solutions for people around the world to have access to clean water.