Better

Published on October 15th, 2010 | by Becky Striepe

8

Donate Your Birthday for Clean Drinking Water

This post is part of 2010’s Blog Action Day, where bloggers across the internet pull together to raise awareness about one important issue. This year’s theme is water.

Children getting clean water at a well in Kenya.

Will and Jada Smith are teaming up with Charity: Water to help more people get access to clean, safe drinking water.

We’ve talked about the importance of clean drinking water around here before. If you’re reading this site, chances are you’re lucky enough to have clean water that comes right out of the tap in your home. Many people aren’t so fortunate. They have to walk miles to collect water for their families, and some don’t have access to clean water at all.

So what does donating your birthday have to do with clean water?

Instead of presents and a party for their birthdays this year, Will and Jada are asking their friends to make donations to Charity: Water. Every $20 they raise helps provide one person with clean drinking water for 10 years.

The Smiths aren’t the only celebs donating their birthdays. Justin Bieber donated his birthday to Charity: Water, too.

Want to donate your birthday to clean water? Head on over to Charity: Water to pledge your special day. Like they mention in the video, the person who raises the most funds gets to visit Africa with the Smiths next year to see the progress on the wells!

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by angela7

Keep up with the latest sustainable food news by signing up for our free newsletter. CLICK HERE to sign up!

Get social! Use the buttons to connect with EDB on some of your favorite social networks!

Tags: Blog Action Day, change.org, clean water, drinking water, healthy drinks, human rights, safe drinking water

About the Author

Becky Striepe My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”), and I am a crafts and food writer from Atlanta, Georgia with a passion for making our planet a healthier, happier, and more compassionate place to live. My mission is to make vegan food and crafts accessible to everyone!. If you like my work, you can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Related Posts

Atmospheric Water Generator: EcoloBlue →

Clean water from oysters? You betcha. →

Looking American Hunger in the Eyes →

#4Liters: Could you live on 16 cups of water a day? →

• Pingback: Blog Action Day: Water – Glue and Glitter()

• http://charitywater.org Paull Young

  Thanks for the post and the support!

  I’m the director of digital at charity: water – just wanted to share one more important fact about how giving up your birthday helps us deliver clean water – our 100% model.

  At charity: water we send 100% of donations to water projects AND we prove the impact. So if you give up your birthday and fundraise, every single cent you raise will contribute to a water project (we even pay back credit card fees!) and in 12 months we show you on Google Maps exactly where your money went!

  • http://glueandglitter.com Becky Striepe

    Any time! Thanks for the additional info. I’m a big fan of what you guys are doing.

  • http://Web Rhonda

    I saw this on 20/20 the other night and misinterpreted the “donate your birthday” concept. I thought it meant “take your age and donate that amount.” So that’s what I did.

    • http://importantmedia.org/members/beckyanne/ Becky Striepe

      Nothing wrong with that! That donation still made a difference for a thirsty child.

• http://www.teilfirms.com Demitrus Evans

  I am so proud of the work that is being done. The idea of donating for your birthday is wonderful and helps make it clear that it doesn’t mean you have to give your life savings to change lives, but you do have to start somewhere. I’m starting with me!

• Pingback: World Water Day (60 Good Water Posts) – Planetsave.com: climate change and environmental news()

• Pingback: For Many, Water is about More Than Thirst – Eat Drink Better()