I turned 18 years old on July 14th. This year, to celebrate my right to vote and ability to buy a lottery ticket, I'm not asking for presents. Instead, I'm asking you to donate $18 in honor of my 18th birthday so people who need clean water can get it.

Here are some numbers: Every day 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. 80% of the world's disease is directly related to unsafe drinking water. 663 million people in the world lack access to clean drinking water and basic sanitation.

But there are positive numbers, too: $30 gives one person clean water, while $10,000 funds an entire water project. My goal is to raise $1,800 for my 18th birthday and give 60 people clean water!

Many of you know that I'm living in New York City this summer. I'm interning here, at charity: water, working to solve the water crisis next to some of the most creative, passionate, and intelligent people I've ever met. They work tirelessly to raise and allocate 100% of your donations towards giving people clean water. When the projects are complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.