Be the change you want to see in the world

I've been thinking a lot lately about how I'd like to give back in some way and do something that either impacts people's lives in a positive way or the environment. For that reason, I decided to donate a portion of my sales to The Water Project. This organization helps provide clean water to people in Africa & India who don't have access to it. It's amazing that something so accessible in the United States is hard to come by in other areas of the world.

I was recently challenged on my decision to support a cause that impacts another country when I could support a charity that impacts Americans. Well, my reason for doing so is because every person in the U.S. has access to clean water...you can walk into almost any public place and use their drinking fountain for free. That is not the case in other places in the world and I personally feel that all people should have access to this basic resource. Here are a few interesting facts on the size of this problem:

• 1 out of every 4 deaths under the age of 5 worldwide is due to a water-related disease
• Nearly 80% of illnesses in developing countries are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions
• A small amount goes a long way...$10 provides 1 person with clean water for 10 years!

Those are just a few of the reasons why I feel this is a cause worth supporting. If you're interested in learning more about this specific charity, visit http://thewaterproject.org/