As our birthdays approached this year there were lots of things that we wanted, but not a single thing that we actually needed. So this year, we decided that we don't want our birthdays to be about us. We want them to be about others and what they need.

A billion people in the world are living without clean water. Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 45,000 people will die this week alone. The ones that do not die will still have to walk hours each day to get dirty water to give to their families.

Jim and I believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. We have a responsibility to help those in need. This is just one of many ways for us to do that. We are so passionate about this cause that we don't just want to give up our birthdays, but we also want to give up any Christmas gifts we may have received.

Jim just turned 25 and I am about to turn 27! Instead of asking for gifts, we are asking for $27 or more from everyone we know. If you can't give $27, give what you can. Any amount will help those in need.

Our goal is to raise $5,000. Why such a high number? Because $5,000 will build a well providing a whole village with clean drinking water. How cool is that?!

None of this money is for us. All of it goes to build freshwater wells for people in developing nations. Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to water projects, and each donation is "proven" and tracked to the village it helped when projects are complete.

Our birthday/Christmas wish this year is not for more gifts we don't need; it's to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billion living without it.

Please join us!!! Maybe even consider giving up your birthday for something you believe in!