Earlier this year, Virginia and I were moved by a charity: water video we had seen on social media. We are so fortunate to live in a place with abundant clean drinking water. And the technology to provide clean drinking water to others around the world is available - it just needs dedicated people and funding to make it happen. So, we have been making a small monthly contribution to this organization to try and start helping. In addition, I am donating my birthday to this cause.

What does that mean? Basically, it means that instead of giving me gifts that I don't really need, please consider a donation towards charity: water instead. I'm turning 42 this year and am setting a goal of $1275 which will help 42 more people get access to clean water.

As we get closer to my birthday (August 24), I'll plan a cook-out / party at our house to get together, have a good time and hopefully surpass this goal! UPDATE: The cookout will be Sunday, September 2nd starting around 4PM. Come by for burgers and dogs. We'll supply the food and drink (including a special dunkelweisen as shown in picture above).
You provide yourself and a lawn chair.

Below is some more information from this organization. They also have a ton of videos, pictures and information on their website www.charitywater.org.

Many of us have no idea what it's like to be thirsty. We have plenty of water to drink -- even the water in our toilets is clean!

But many people around the world don’t have that luxury. Every day, about 1,400 children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world.

I started this fundraising campaign to help charity: water build these types of projects around the world, and I'm looking for anyone who can help me.

Please donate to my campaign -- anything you can give is a huge help.

100% of the money will be used to build clean water projects, and when they’re complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the exact community we helped.