Every day, 1,400 kids under the age of 5 die from water-related illnesses. Let's help change that!

My birthday just passed on October 17, and I'm really thankful to have lived another happy, healthy year. I'm lucky to have turned 11 this year. Millions of kids around the world don't even live to see their fifth birthday because they don't have access to clean, safe drinking water. We can help change that.

I'm asking for my age in dollars from everyone I know ($11), but every contribution of any size helps. The money raised will fund clean water projects in developing countries. Charity: water will show us exactly which projects we funded once they've been fully completed (which takes about 21 months). That means we'll know the locations and names of the communities we helped.

I have raised money for clean water every year since I turned seven. That year, I directed my gifts toward another boy's water campaign. His name is Tariku, and he is the grandson of some family friends I have known and loved all my life. He came to the U.S. from Ethiopia, where his community didn't have access to clean water, and his baby brother died. I was really touched by his story, and I couldn't stop watching videos on the charity: water website. I had never known about the lack of fresh water in so many parts of the world until then, but I've been doing what I can to make a difference ever since.

Please help me reach my goal. Please donate to my birthday campaign!