All I Want For My 30th Birthday Is Clean Water

It’s hard to believe today is my 30th birthday. I don’t usually ask for presents, but this year I’ve decided to make an exception. 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. I may not know you, but I’m going to ask anyway – Want to celebrate with me? I mean, April is also Earth Month AND Water Awareness Month, so you were probably planning to contribute somehow, weren’t you?

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to

Cry about the water crisis, that is.

Women and children around the world walk hours every day to collect water for their families. They lose out on education and employment opportunities, which means equality between men and women in their countries stays way out of balance. Plus the water they collect can make them really sick. Terrible right? Well, we can actually do something about it. Yes, this is my soap box.

For the past year and a half I’ve had the privilege of writing for this blog, writing a water-related column for Lawn & Landscape Magazine (“Don’t Just Save Water, Save The World”) and meeting a lot of people in the water industry who are fighting hard for a sustainable future. I’m constantly writing and talking about how valuable water is and what a great gift (“The Gift of Water” )! So it only makes sense it’s all I want for my 30th birthday, right?

Want to party too?

For a lot of people 30 is a scary milestone, but not for me. I’m thrilled with the opportunities I’ve had in the last 30 years and confident the next 60  will be even better. My only regret? For so much of my youth I only focused on me. Luckily I get a second chance to put the focus where it belongs: On others, especially those in need. If you could use a second chance, too, why don’t you join me in bringing clean water to some very deserving people? You can contribute to my campaign or pledge your own birthday! It’s a small gift with a HUGE impact: accessible clean water means health, freedom, education, equality, and more.

I can’t think of a better birthday gift. Or Earth Month Gift. Or Water Awareness Month gift. You get the idea.

And if charity:water isn’t your style, find a water-related charity that is, here: “Don’t Just Save Water, Save The World”

How do you celebrate April’s big events? Planting trees? Helping out at a community garden? I know a lot of you are very active with environmental projects year-round. Do you do anything differently to observe Earth Month? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page: Water Bloggers and send links to your projects! We love seeing what you’re up to.

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