"Instead of Birthday Gifts, Please Send Clean Water to Africa" — The Last Birthday Wish of Nine-Year-Old Rachel Beckwith
In 2011, nine-year-old Rachel Beckwith from Washington State asked for donations to charity: water instead of birthday presents, setting a modest $300 goal. After her tragic death in a car accident, her campaign went viral and raised over $1.26 million, bringing clean water to more than 37,000 people across Africa.
Jul 13, 2026