Update: We did it, and in less than 24 hours.  THANK YOU!

Friends, family, complete strangers,

It’s my 26th birthday on the 26th, and if you knew me when I was 25, you know just what I wanted… and with your help, I got it.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel through rural Tanzania. While I was there, I was able to witness firsthand the difference clean drinking water can make for a community.

I took the pictures below. People used to wade into this disgusting swamp to get their water several times throughout the day, or lower buckets into the muddy mess.  It’s unreal.

We’ve all heard about it non-stop, but I needed to see it with my own two eyes. It’s unexplainable and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to keep helping.

Last year we built one well together, this year let’s go for two. That will serve 500 people clean drinking water.

And this time I will personally match every donation up to $5,000.

Ready? Set? Let’s go.

Happy birthday to me,

Josh

Friends, family, readers, generous souls:

We did it! We’ve reached my goal. A goal I set on my 25th birthday.

Together we raised $5,000. $5,000 that builds a well and provides clean drinking water for a community of 500+ people.

Dozens of you stepped up and donated to make this possible (more than 100 in total). Names I recognize, familiar names I’d seen around, and names I’ve never seen before.

You all rock.

Each and every one of you has helped me reach my goal and were an integral part of something bigger, something special, something with meaning beyond words.

My wish has been granted. Thank you for your support.

With gratitude,

Josh

P.S. That was easy, right? Got a birthday coming up? How about you build one as well?

Ladies and gentlemen: We haven’t reached my goal yet, but we’re getting closer. And I’m not going to stop talking about it until we do. With more than 100,000+ readers, I’m convinced we can do a lot of good together. $1.00 from each and we’d have 20 wells by now. Anything helps, really.

To those of you who have supported so far, thank you. You are all awesome. 

Did you donate and want a link to your site, company or project here? Forward me your Paypal receipt to feedback[at]joshspear.com and I’ll give you a proper shout out and full link here.

Today is my birthday, 25 years to be exact. While I really do want to let it pass quietly (I feel old), I also want to do some good. Want to send me a gift? Figured you might. How about you just donate to Charity Water instead. I’m giving up my birthday, and it’s all I want from you: A $25 donation means only 200 of you (and there are thousands of you out there) need to pony up the cash so we can team up and build a well.

Only $5,000 builds a well that provides clean drinking water for 250+ people for more than 20 years.

Now that’s worth celebrating. Come on, lets go.

Update! Donate directly on the charity water site here!

Oh, the Reebok Freestyle– one of the only shoes to be worn by teenagers and their grandmothers during the same year. At the beginning of this month, Reebok released the first of a series of special edition Freestyles to celebrate this retro hightop’s 25th birthday, and I’ve been high off of the sound of Velcro ever since. This is the first of the series, which is being rabidly pursued by ex-dance aerobics instructors and sneaker collectors alike, and I’m feeling pretty giddy about it. I had quite a relationship with these in elementary school. Of course, I’m not the only one; in 1984, the Freestyle made up more than half of Reebok’s entire sales, and it continues to hold the rank of one of the best selling shoes of all time. The advertising for the shoes is also partially credited for the women’s fitness craze of the early eighties (good ankle support for that strenuous step-aerobics, hah). Darn it, Reebok, hurry up and give us some more!!