All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. Stuff I thought I wanted but, to be honest, I hardly even remember what I got last year.

So this year, I'm giving my birthday up.

I'm turning 8 years old and instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $8 or more from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater projects for people who need it.

I never thought about people not having clean water. I can walk into my kitchen and get water whenever I want to. I didn't know there were people who can't until my dad told me and showed me the charity: water movie. It made me sad.

So my birthday wish this year is not for more gifts; it's to give clean drinking water to some of the people living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year.

The best part: 100% of all donations go directly toward water projects. And about 18 months after this campaign ends, charity: water will show us where and how every dollar we raised ended up helping in the field. We'll see GPS coordinates, photos and more details about the communities we've impacted. So this in not another charity where you give money and don't get to see how it helps. We'll get to see exactly how we helped people.

My goal is to raise $500. That will get clean water for 25 people. And my parents have said that they will match whatever I raise so we can help get water for 50 people! So please join me in helping people get the clean water they need.

- Gabe