My 21st birthday (August 31) is coming soon. I don’t usually ask for presents, but just like last year I do have a request: instead of giving me presents, I'd love for you to consider something different and something much better and more meaningful to me if you want to help me celebrate my birthday in a special way. I’m asking all my friends and family to donate to charity: water and give clean water to people who need it, instead of giving me gifts.

Did you know that almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking 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.

Why charity: water? Because it is the best organization I know, hands down and here's a huge reason why:

100% of every dollar you donate to my birthday campaign will be used to build clean water projects in developing countries. charity: water funds their operating costs separately through a group of private donors, so 100% of all public donations will go directly to people in need.

charity: water suggests asking for your age you are turning in dollars, but if you don't have $21 to give, please know that your support means the world to me if you give only a dollar if that would be possible and with charity: water's 100% model-they mean it: every cent you give goes directly toward funding a water project and they'll even report back to you about the one you helped build once it's finished (those are some of the best emails I ever receive.) so if you're asking yourself if a small amount makes a difference IT DOES. So does sharing this page and spreading the word for me or learning more about the water crisis and charity: water so that maybe you can start your own campaign.

So, let's get the point:

Help me make this birthday my best ever by helping me fund clean water projects for those in need! Thank you and God bless!