My colleagues and close friends know how obsessed I am with drinking water. I try to drink around 150 ounces every day. Consuming large sums of water has numerous health benefits. It’s good for your immune system, skin, digestive system, brain and so on (remember, 60% of your body is water). I started this binge behavior last summer. I have large mason jars stationed at work and home that I fill to the brim with 28 ounces of cold refreshing water. Yes, I’m running to the bathroom every few minutes, but I have noticed a difference in my health. I haven’t been sick in a while, not even a cold. I even lost 15 pounds (another result of drinking lots of water).

This water-centric lifestyle is contingent on access to clean water. Until I was introduced to charity: water, I had no idea that 663 million people around the world do not have access to clean water. That’s twice the size of the United States. Water is a basic necessity of human beings. 663 million human beings don’t have a basic necessity to sustain life. That’s crazy!

At my previous company, I attended a company-wide meeting where an energetic New Yorker named Scott Harrison told us his life story, which brought most of us to tears. In short, Scott was living a lifestyle that was too inward focused. After a crisis of identity, he sought a better purpose in life. He soon came to realize that a large portion of the world doesn’t have access to clean water. So he set out to change that. And charity: water was born. 6.3 million people who now have access to clean water, can thank charity: water (plus thousands of donors).

On August 2nd of this year I’ll turn 25 years old. For my birthday, I’d like to “give it up” to raise money for this organization. Please consider donating, even just $25 dollars to this campaign. One of the great things about charity: water is its transparency. Every dollar donated will go directly to the field. If we are successful raising $3,000, one hundred people will get access to clean water.