I love this charity - they are a great example of using the power of social media for a great cause.

So this year, I'm giving my birthday up and will simply celebrate with great food and friends.

I'm turning 30 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $30 or more 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.

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.

Please join me.

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