I decided in December that I was going to do a Give Up Your Birthday campaign for one of my favorite organizations, charity: water this year and the time has finally come. I'm so excited to see what comes of this and how big of a dent we can make in the water crisis! Let's go BIG!

If you've come to this page, I'm hoping maybe you already have a fundraiser of your own going or that you do know a bit about what charity: water does, but if not, I'm thrilled to be the one to give you a little information and tell you why I love what they're are doing and how they do it so much.

Before, I get into some of the information, if you don't know about what this organization is all about already the absolute best thing you can do is explore their website and see the great work for yourself because I have a feeling that I might end up making this long, although not intentionally.

First of all, what started my desire to get involved and help charity: water is the story behind it. I first heard about how Scott Harrison started it, and I was completely fascinated and I knew I had to do something to help. I admire his passion and I hope to see him with the help of thousands and thousands of caring individuals end the water crisis in his and my lifetime because right now there are about 800 MILLION people on this Earth who do not have access to clean water and that affects all aspects of their lives from health to hygiene, to cooking and cleaning. Think about everything we all use water for every single day, just as charity: water says, "Water Changes Everything."

Not only do all these people not have access to clean water, but they often have to walk several hours a day to get DIRTY water that they know will make them sick but they have no other option. That right there is why I am trying to help do something about it.

To think about the fact that so many people are spending in some cases, half of their day or more gathering dirty water when they could be doing something much more productive. For the kids who collect, being more productive could mean learning at school (and the schools not having clean water is another issue that charity: water is tackling) For the women who often do this, they could be spending time with their kids or starting businesses but because of one this core issue-the lack of access to clean and safe water they are forced to gather this water every day. It's such a grueling task and it is hard to imagine for most of us since we can just get clean water out of the tap, but it's real and people are carrying the dirty water they have to use as I type this. Even worse, the amount they can collect often times is not even enough for all of their daily activities requiring water like cooking, cleaning, and bathing.

So let's please, do what we can to make a dent in the water crisis and help improve lives! If I can do that by simply not accepting useless presents for my birthday and donating money I do receive, I'm going to do it, it's a no-brainer.

Oh and just because this might be my favorite aspect of charity: water if you do decide to donate to this or any other mycharitywater campaign, they will prove every dollar!! That's right, if you donate even just a dollar to a campaign, it will go directly to a water project and once that project that you helped support is finished you will receive an email all about it with pictures and information all about what you helped them build and about the group of people or the village you made an impact on! If that's not incredible, then I don't know what is.

So what are you waiting for?

Help me out by donating any amount you want, I don't care if it's a dollar and I don't care if you just spread the word about this and about charity: water especially, that ALL matters! (although it would be extra cool if you had $20 or more to give for my 20th birthday) or start your own fundraiser, either way, I hope you decide to do something.

God Bless you!

-Melissa