EDIT: Thank you to everyone who helped me reach my $500 goal! I'm so overjoyed by everyone's generosity and enthusiasm that I can't let it stop there: I've made a new goal of $750. I have no doubt that we can help make this a reality!

Thank you all for your support!

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In the midst of appointments, errands, obligations, and sporadic social interactions, we rarely leave time for ourselves to think about where we fit in the scheme of the world.

You are one of almost seven billion people. Of these seven billion, many are robbed of opportunities that we are handed from birth. Simple luxuries we take for granted are ones many dare not dream of: food and water are scarce enough.

What does this mean to us? It means a lot to me. Being born into an impoverished environment does not mean you deserve to suffer the consequences your entire life.

For my 21st birthday, I want to give someone the chance to overcome the less fortunate hands they were dealt at birth. It won't change the world, but it will help make someone's life a little bit easier. I hope that, through easy access to clean water, some kids will get an education. I hope that a mother doesn't have to see her children fall ill from tainted water. I hope that a community will be able to, in any small way, be able to prosper more so than they prosper now.

I hope that you will help me do this.