Hi, I'm Bridger. This is my 2nd year giving up Christmas presents for water. Last year, I raised $5,622 for people in need of water {mycharitywater.org/scorpions}, and this year, I want to do twice as much as last year.

I'm 8 and in 3rd grade. I love scorpions.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/BBs-Clean-Water-for-Christmas/146329768801137

{from charity: water}

The holidays: a time for family, fun and love.

Joy to the world, right?

But here's the reality of Christmas in our world: America spends around $500 billion a year on Christmas gifts. That's more than $600 per person! We also spend another $8 billion on Christmas decorations.

Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

This Christmas, I'm taking a step back from that world. This Christmas, I want to give more than gifts that fit in boxes.

I want to give people life.

More than a billion people are living without clean drinking water on our planet. Some walk miles every day to get to the nearest source: a stagnant, parasite-infested stream or pond. They lug it back to their families. They suffer from diarrheal disease, worms and skin problems because they can't wash. About 30,000 people die each week from water-related diseases. Most are kids under five years old!

My mission is to raise over $10,000 by Christmas this year. 100% of every dollar I raise will go directly to water projects. And when the projects are complete, charity: water will show us GPS coordinates, photos and other details about the communities we've helped. Together, we'll be able to see the impact we've made.

One billion people, one cause. The least we can do is give one Christmas.

Please join me by donating.