On all of my birthdays I have received stuff. Stuff I appreciate as the gifts they are, but stuff I definitely don't need.

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

I'm turning 34 years old on October 7, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $34 (or any amount) from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater wells for people in developing nations.

See that picture up there? That is what a billion people in the world drink every day. 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. 45,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still walk hours each day to get dirty water to give to their families.

My birthday wish this year is to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billion living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year. Please join me.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your donations and/or prayers for those living without something we take for granted. They will be blessed by your kindness.

please note: Because of charity: water's unique model, 100% of all donations go directly to direct water projects costs, and each donation is "proven" and tracked to the village it helped when projects are complete.

Love,
Jill