This year on 10/10/11, I'll be 40 years old.

Did you know millions of people don't live old enough to turn 5 years old because they don't have access to clean, safe water?

This year for my birthday, I have made a pretty simple birthday wish list. I'm asking for $40 from everyone I know.

Every penny of the money raised is going to build freshwater projects for people in developing countries. Even better, /charity: water/ will show us exactly which projects we funded once they've been fully completed (which takes about 18 months). That means we'll be able to see the communities we've helped!

Almost 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. 30,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still have to walk hours each day to get dirty water for their families.

The best part: 100% of all donations go directly toward water projects. And about 18 months after this campaign ends, charity: water will show us where and how every dollar we raised ended up helping in the field. We'll see GPS coordinates, photos and more details about the communities we've impacted.

Please join me to make this birthday count.

Thank you,
Rachel

p.s. $40 too much? What about half that? If you told me at age 20 that I'd be asking for clean water for my 40th, I wouldn't have believed you!