September has always been one of my favorite months. It means cooler temperatures, leaves changing color, and my birthday. (We'll skip the part about school starting.) I now add charity: water to my list of "September Favorites". As I find myself on the brink of another September, I'm faced with another birthday and another opportunity to do something meaningful.

Two years ago I spent my birthday in Ethiopia as charity: water drilled a well with the money raised from the September campaign. That well was a gift of opportunity for an entire community. The opportunity of business, education, health, and... life. Water really is life!

There are a lot of things that I find compelling and inspirational about charity: water. The facts inspire me, the 100% model of giving, the dedication and hard work of the staff trying to provide one billion people with access to clean water, but mostly it's the stories. Stories of the one million lives already transformed through donations as small as $20. Like me, you probably don't remember where you spent your last $20, but you now have an opportunity to remember for the next 20 years where you spend your next $20. Like Septembers before, I'm asking that you help me make my birthday matter in the lives of others.

My birthday wish... That each of you donate my age, 33 (or more, if you are able) in dollars toward building a well in the Central African Republic.

My promise... 100% of your donation will transform the lives of the Bayaka people by funding a clean water project.

My hope... That you allow yourself to be changed by giving.

"For it is in the giving that we receive."-- St. Francis of Assisi