More Water Please

I'm turning 34 on August 1st... yeah, I'm telling you my age.  I've been blessed these 34 years.  My parents are still married (woohoo-- 42 years so far)and I was born and grew up in the country with the world's largest national economy (the United States of America).  Even though my family wasn't always so solidly middle class, it is fair to say that I have never known what it means to truly be in want.  In short, you could say that there is nothing else in this world that I truly need.

I wanted to do something different this year for my birthday.  I have a friend in NYC who started a charity back in 2006 that provides clean drinking water to developing nations.  His story is pretty inspirational-- he went from a partying playboy who had a crisis of conscience to now being the founder and CEO of Charity: Water, which has raised over $40 million and helped 2.5 million people have access to clean drinking water.

Did you know that nearly 800 million people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water?  Did you know that more people die from lack of clean water and sanitation than from all acts of violence combined, including war?

This year for my birthday, instead of presents and well wishes, I want people to donate $34 towards a water project.  Together we can help people less fortunate than ourselves get access to clean drinking water.  Every penny of the money raised will directly fund clean water projects 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 know the locations and names of the communities we helped.  How cool is that?!?

Click here to make a donation: http://my.charitywater.org/water-for-my-birthday-please

I've set the goal for $3,400.  If just 100 people donate $34, we can hit our mark.  So, what are you waiting for?

Help Make a Little Boy's Wish Come True

One of the blogs that I regularly read {Bits of Beauty} wrote the sweetest post the other day.  Jenn's son's birthday is coming up very soon (he will be 8!), and instead of asking for presents, he has asked that money be donated to Charity: Water in his name.  Click here to be redirected to the Charity: Water site where you can donate $8 for Aidan's 8th birthday!

Jennifer Connelly in charity: water Public Service Announcement from charity: water on Vimeo.
Are you familiar with Charity: Water?  It's a charity that builds wells so that people in developing countries can have access to clean water.


Did you know:

• RIGHT NOW almost 1 Billion people on the planet do not have access to clean, safe drinking water.
• Unsafe water and lack of sanitation cause 80% of diseases.
• More people die each year from unsafe water and lack of sanitation than from all forms of violence (including war).
• a $20 donation can give 1 person clean water for 20 years.
• 100% of what you donate goes directly to fund water projects in developing countries.

Aidan is hoping to raise $800, which would give clean water to 40 people.

Won't you help grant an (almost) 8-year old boy his birthday wish by donating $8 to Charity: Water?