The holidays - a time for family, comfort and love.

Joy to the world, right?

Here's the reality, though, of Christmas in our world: America spends around $500 billion a year on Christmas gifts. That's more than $600 a person. We also spend another $8 billion on decorating for Christmas.

Isn't there something wrong with this picture?

This Christmas, I'm taking a step back from that world... This Christmas, I want to give more than gifts that fit in boxes.

Every year I'm asked "What do you want for xmas?" And I never really have anything I really want or need. This year, I really, really want something. I want to make a difference. I want to help raise enough money to build a well for an entire community.

So this year I'm giving up my Christmas, so that people around the world can have water, something most of us all take for granted.

I'm asking everyone that would have normally given me a present for Christmas this year to instead make a donation to this amazing charity.

Think about this...

A $50 Express gift card let's me buy 1 sweater that will be out of style next year.

A $50 donation to Charity: Water will provide clean water for 2 people for 20 years!!!

More than a billion people are living without water on our planet. Some walk miles every day to get to the nearest source: a stagnant, parasite-infested stream or pond. They lug it back to their families. They suffer from diarrhea, worms and skin diseases because they can't wash themselves. 45,000 people die each day from waterborne illnesses.

My mission is to raise $5,000 by Christmas this year, enough to build a well for an entire community of 250 people! 100% of every penny I raise will go directly to the water projects. And every project is "proved" using GPS technology and photos and put on Google Earth. Together, we'll be able to see the impact we've made.

One billion people, one cause. The least we can do is give one Christmas.

So how can you help???

Step 1: Start by please making a donation here. Whatever you can, it all helps. $5, $25, $50, $100, whatever you can afford in lieu of an xmas present.

Step 2: Then, find out if your company does donation matching, a LOT of major companies do. That will double your donation and it won't cost you anything extra. You can usually take your donation receipt to them and they make it simple to have your company match your donation.

Step 3: Share this message to everyone you know. Post it on your facebook page. Post it to twitter. Email it, text it... you get the idea. Share the link: mycharitywater.org/water4xmas2010

Lastly... THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!