As cheesy as this may sound, (and in case you didn't know, I like cheesy-ness)… lately, I’ve been encouraged to think about what I can do to help make the world a better place. (Cue: Michael Jackson “Heal the World”) I’m an optimist at heart. I believe that each person can make a difference and do something to change things for the better. As a collective, we can make a positive impact, whether it be through something like recycling or just by saying a few kind words. Yes, we all have our own issues, struggles, and checklist of things to be done, but it doesn’t hurt to help out a little and do something for someone else for a change.

Which brings me to something I’ve been encouraged to do this month. November is the month for giving thanks, realizing everything we have to be thankful for, and hopefully for giving back as well. November’s also my birth month! (Cue: “Happy Birthday Song”) So I decided I wanted to do something a little different this year. Rather than receive gifts, I’m asking everyone to donate to mycharity: water, a non-profit organization that works to provide clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Since I'm turning 26 years old, I'm asking for $26 or more from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is 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. 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.

My birthday wish this year is not for more gifts I don't need; it's to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billion living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year.

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.