This year I wanted to do something different. I wanted to do something that would help change someone's life. So this year, I'm giving my birthday up.

I'm turning 30 years old, and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking all of my friends for $30 to help build a well and give water to those who desperately need it.

But there's a bonus! In exchange for a $50 donation, I am offering YOU a batch of freshly baked cookies - chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, rolo - you name it, I'll bake it. I'll even do weird combos, like oatmeal chocolate chip mint.

Don't forget: A billion people in the world (that's 1 in 8 of us) are living without clean water. Many people in the developing world, usually women and children, walk more than three hours every day to fetch water that is likely to make them sick. Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 45,000 people will die this week alone.

charity: water has a unique model - 100% of all donations go directly to water projects costs, and each donation is "proved" and tracked to the village it helped when projects are complete. So your donation goes directly to support projects. Just $20 can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years. By building a well, WE are giving over 250 people clean drinking water. That's amazing!

My birthday wish this year is not for more gifts that I don't need; it's 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. Eat some cookies. Make a difference!