On January 7th, 2013 I am turning 23 years old. And this year, I don't want presents or drinks. I want clean water.

Did you know that 780 million people do not have clean water in our world today? And that there are more people who own a cell phone than those who have a toilet? In Rwanda, women and children have to walk for hours every day just to collect water from rivers. And the worst part? The water they collect is not clean and can make them extremely ill. Over 3.4 million people die each year and 4,100 children die each day from water born illness.

Terrible right? Well, we can actually do something about it. Just $20 can give one person access to clean water.

So I'm asking everyone for my age in donations. Give $23 or however much you can or want and help me give life's most basic need.

100% of the money we raise will directly fund piped systems that protect natural water sources and deliver water to communities in the Rulindo District of Rwanda. When those projects are complete, charity water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the impact we made.

Hope you all feel as passionate as I do about this! Can't think of a better birthday gift.

http://www.charitywater.org/media/downloads/charity-water-talking-points.pdf