All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. Stuff I don't want, stuff I definitely don't need. Last year I asked my friends to stop buying me presents.

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

Instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking for $10 (about £7 /9Euros) or more from everyone I know. It's not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater projects for people in developing countries. If you'd like to be a real Star in being part of this movement, read on and become part of this celebration!

http://mycharitywater.org/soniashah

Almost a billion people in the world are living without clean water -- but how much are they really living? Millions contract deadly diseases from contaminated water. 30,000 people will die this week alone. The lucky ones won't, but still have to walk hours each day to get dirty water for their families.

My birthday wish this year is not for more gifts I don't need; it's to give clean and safe drinking water to some of the billion people living without it. I want to make my birthday matter this year.

I'm asking my close friends, facebook friends, family, even neighbours whom I've never met as well as my dentist, my postman and anyone else I can think of : ) to celebrate my birthday with a real difference and for you to be part of it!

Here's where you can contribute

http://mycharitywater.org/soniashah

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.

Please join me and help me celebrate my Birthday with a real difference, thanks to your generosity!