It's March, and my 39th birthday is right around the corner. This year I am dedicating my birthday to help raise money to give a village drinkable water.

I made this pledge last year, and now it's crunch time. Thanks to several generous people, we have managed to raise $2,000 towards the goal of $10,000.

Sure $8,000 seems like a lot of money, but the outcome of this investment is huge. Here are two incredible statistics to show you the true impact of clean water:

(1) Diseases from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

(2) 90% of the 30,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are in children under five years old.

My time in the Peace Corps (Uzbekistan) and International Development (Azerbaijan) showed me just how important access to clean potable water really was. Without it, people's lives are devoted to obtaining it.

Imagine sending your 8 year old daughter on a 5km (one way!) trip with a yellow jerry can, EVERY DAY, to get water for your family.

While she's getting water, she is not in school.

While she's getting water, she is vulnerable.

While she's getting water, her young bones and muscles are being transformed by the continual burden of gallons of water.

I first heard the incredible story of charity: water, from it's founder at a conference. It's amazing what they have been able to do to get water to those in need. 100% of every dollar raised will go toward building water projects in developing countries. And when the projects are finished (about 18 months), charity: water will show us just which communities were impacted with GPS coordinates, photos and other details.

Together, we'll be able to see what we've accomplished.

Instead of buying me a birthday gift….
Instead of buying yourself that next little trinket you don't really need…
Instead of buying another app for your phone…

I ask that you pledge that money instead to this worthy cause. Every little bit helps…thanks so much for your support!