A lot of my birthdays have always been about stuff--either stuff I don't want or stuff I definitely don't need. And to be honest, I know that I'm not the easiest person to get gifts for.
On top of that, I won't even be around in the United States for my 21st birthday this year, plus I'll be traveling around (and I don't like the taste of alcohol)...making it an even less feasible idea to buy me something for my birthday.

So this year, I'm giving my birthday up.

I'm turning 21, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $21 or more (or less) from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater projects for people in developing countries.

Almost 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. 30,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still have to walk hours each day to get dirty water for 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 people living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year.

The best part: 100% of all donations go directly toward water projects. And about 18 months after this campaign ends, charity: water will show us where and how every dollar we raised ended up helping in the field. We'll see GPS coordinates, photos and more details about the communities we've impacted.

With that said...please join me in making an impact! And making this the most memorable (and alcohol-free) 21st birthday I could ask for :)