I just celebrated my 27th birthday! If you know me, you know this is my favorite time of year, and this year, I’d like to do something special for my birthday...

Instead of presents, cards, and Facebook posts, I’m asking you to help me give the gift of clean water to those in need. I never have to wonder where my next glass of water, my next meal, my next shower, my next load of clean clothes, etc., will come from, but over 800 million people in the world do not have access to clean water. Every day, 5,000 kids die from water-related illnesses before they reach their fifth birthday. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are simple solutions like drilled wells, spring protections and BioSand filters that help provide clean water to communities around the world. An amazing organization called charity: water, works every day to help solve this problem through these types of water projects.

Some of you may know that my fiancé, Eric, also raised money by giving his birthday to charity: water back in February. He was able to help bring clean water to those in Nepal, and his campaign inspired me to do the same.

My goal is to raise $2,700 to help fund clean water projects. This amount can bring clean water to 135 people. Whether you’re able to donate $2.70, $27, or $270, every single cent of the money we raise will directly fund water projects around the world. When those projects are complete, charity: water will send us photos and GPS coordinates so we can see the impact we made! I can't think of a better birthday gift.

Please donate to my campaign, and make this the best birthday ever!