As you know, my birthday is coming up on Friday, July 10, and it's a big one, the 3-0! This year I know exactly what I want! It's something new and (for me) very exciting.

Instead of gifts, I've donated my birthday to raise funds to support projects doing good in the world, specifically helping the non-profit I'm passionate about, McPherson Family Life Center. We are having a slow giving year so far and are at risk of having to close down for good.

I started this fundraiser on Pure Charity to raise $3,000. Every penny of this goes to fund our programs that provide mental health counseling and parent support programs to McPherson County residents. These powerful services are so needed in our community. We accept insurance but a lot of our clients rely on our sliding fee scale and scholarships to receive our services where they can receive encourage and hope to lead better lives.

So this year, instead of the gifts you were planning on getting me (or forgot you were going to get me!), would you please join me in making my birthday wish come true by helping me raise $3,000 to support these projects? Do I have 100 friends that would give $30 to help children, teens and adults grow towards greater mental health and a stronger family?

Thank you so much for being a part of my life and helping me accomplish something that's very, very important to me, keeping the doors of McPherson Family Life Center open to serve those in our community that need our services.

Please join me, $5, $10, $30, $100?!? Can you give to help me celebrate?