In the past, I have never considered my birthday to be about material stuff. Instead, I wanted experiences.

So this year, I'm trying a different experience. I'm donating my birthday.

I'm turning 18 years old and instead of asking for presents, I'm asking for $18 or more from everyone I know. It will be going to build freshwater wells for people in developing nations.

A billion people in the world are living without clean water - but how much are they really living? Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water and millions more won't live to see their 5th birthday. 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. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water.

My birthday wish this year is not to add to the already ridiculous amount of material goods that I have, but to give back in thanks for how fortunate I am.

Please join me.

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, and photos and GPS coordinates are posted using Google Earth.