In August, one of my dad's best friends died in a tragic accident. He left behind his two boys adopted from Burundi and his wife and three daughters. All of a sudden, we know what it is to live without a loved one. Sean loved his family. Now they are left without him. It's not all that much different from the many people in the world who lose loved ones to the dirty water they are drinking. It's tragic. It's unnecessary.

The void of our loved ones (dads, moms, kids, friends, siblings, sons, daughters) is hugely felt. Our lives are never the same. I know this firsthand because my brother died because of the dirty water we were drinking in Ethiopia. My dad's friend, Sean, believed that clean water was a basic human right. He believed it so much that he gave money to Charity:Water every month to help bring clean water to families and communities in the world who needed it.

Nothing makes Sean's absence better. But I think it would make him really happy to know that people were giving to help bring access to clean water for more families.

For my 14th birthday, I'd like to raise $3,000 in Sean's honor. We take so much for granted. Let's gets serious about the fact that our grass drinks cleaner water than most of the world.

We can do something about that! Thanks for believing we can help bring clean water to the world. Let's make a difference together. Maybe we'll just be able to give someone back their loved one. And, that, is no small thing.