It's my 30th Birthday!

I'm 30! I know it's a milestone, but I'm donating my big day to something that needs the attention even more than I do.

What I REALLY want you to pay attention to today is rhino poaching. I've had the absolute pleasure of meeting and interacting with some rhinos in person and was instantly enamored with them. It breaks my heart to know that if poaching continues at the rate it's happening now, these gorgeous animals will be completely gone from this planet in just a few short years. In 2013, more than 946 rhinos were poached for their horns, making it the deadliest year on record for rhinos. Time is running out fast!

With that in mind, I set up this donation page. I'm asking you to please take a look and consider donating to Save the Rhino International, an organization working to protect rhinos in the wild.

Fundraising Websites - Crowdrise

I'm asking you, my cherished friends and family to please PLEASE take a moment to look at some of the information I've posted below about rhino poaching, and donate what you can to my campaign. I'm so lucky to already have your love and support, and it's proven to be all I need to be really really happy in this life. What I really want you to give me for my birthday this year is this gift for these animals.

If you need more incentive than knowing that you're contributing to rhino conservation, Crowdrise is offering each donor a chance to win some really great prizes just for donating. If you donate at least $24, you'll be entered to win an iPad Mini, which I hear is pretty groovy. Click here for a look at the rest of the prizes you'll have a chance at winning just by donating to this very worthy cause.

Other Ways to Help

Besides financial support, I think the most important thing that you can give to the effort to save the rhino is a voice. The more information about what is happening in Africa spreads, the more support the effort will have. So please, share this and other videos about rhino poaching with your friends and family. Write to local politicians, sign petitions, and do more research on your own.

Spread the word, and please don't forget to donate. Thank you for already making this birthday so great!

Rhino Poaching Info

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Further Reading

• http://www.stoprhinopoaching.com/
• http://www.savetherhino.org/
• http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_rhinos/
• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/02/130227-rhino-horns-poaching-south-africa-iucn/
• http://globalnews.ca/news/1085626/south-african-rhino-poaching-deaths-nears-1000-in-2013/
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/10528085/South-African-rhino-poaching-deaths-nears-1000.html

Use Fewer Paper Towels

I attended the TedX Buffalo conference earlier this week. While I was blown away by some of the brilliant local speakers, I also really enjoyed some of the Ted talk videos that we were shown. This one stuck with me as something really worth sharing. It's short and sweet, but it features a really simple change we can all make in our every day lives to make a remarkable impact. All you need to do is reduce the amount of paper towels you use to dry your hands. Here's how:

Best in Crowdfunding: October 2013

The True Cost

The major issue that I've come to care the most about over the past year is the fast fashion industry. I'd already started seeking out more eco-friendly apparel, when the Rana Plaza collapse happened in Bangladesh, killing over 1,100 garment factory workers. It was then that I realized that there was something even more important that the eco-friendliness of my clothes: their human-friendliness. Since then, I've completely changed the way I shop for clothing. I talk about fast fashion to anyone who will listen, and am constantly encouraging my friends and family to make better shopping choices. It's so important to educate people about the fast fashion industry, and its affect not only on the treatment of factory workers, but on the environment as well. This filmmaker is working to do just that. I hope you'll watch the trailer, below, and support this project.
Campaign Goal: $75,000
Deadline: November 11
Platform: Kickstarter

You and Who makes the "Goodest T-Shirt Ever!"

I can barely contain my excitement about this campaign! You and Who, a Buffalo-based t-shirt company has been around for a few years now. Their shirts are designed by some really talented artists from all over the country. For every shirt they sell, they donate another one to an organization in the artist's city. Until now, their shirts have been manufactured overseas. Founder Dan Gigante was really affected, much like I was, by the tragic garment factory collapse that occurred in Bangladesh earlier this year. He decided to make a major change and to start working with domestic manufacturers. This campaign will help him make that happen. It's no secret that I'm skeptical of the Buy-One-Give-One business model, but You and Who is definitely an exception! They are a great company doing wonderful things, and I'm proud to say that I know Dan personally. I'm thrilled about this project, because it's educating people about garment factory working conditions, and because it's coming from a Buffalo company! Contribute now to help prevent more garment factory tragedies, and get some really awesome t-shirts in the process
Campaign Goal: $25,000
Deadline: November 11
Platform: IndieGoGo

Conscious Step: Socks That Solve Social Problems

Here's another fashion-related project that is pretty great. The creators behind this one just want you to buy some socks. When you do, the proceeds will go to the cause associated with the sock design you choose. Causes include providing clean water to school children in Nepal, and planting trees in Ghana. The sock designs are all really fun, and of course I absolutely love the fact that they're manufactured in fair trade conditions. They're going to make some really unique gifts for the wonderful men in my life this holiday season!
Campaign Goal: $20,000
Deadline: November 7
Platform: IndieGoGo

Proceeds from Conscious Steps socks will benefit a variety of causes.

Give to Kenya's Wildlife Foundation

This project addresses a very complex situation arising in and around Nairobi, Kenya. It is a rapidly developing city, surrounded by poor farming families. Land development is forcing wildlife to share space with livestock farmers. The farmers, who depend on their livestock to feed their families, kill predators like lions and leopards. Meanwhile, they're selling portions of their land to developers, usually to pay tuition costs for their children. So the land for the wildlife is getting smaller and smaller, and poor families are still struggling to both feed and educate their children. The Wildlife Foundation has come up with a great solution through the Conservation Lease Program. They ask farmers and landowners not to sell their land to developers, or to kill predators like big cats. In exchange, the farmers receive a stipend that they may spend as they choose. Most often, the money is spent on education. It's a win-win-win. Farmers get to keep their land, wildlife is safe, and children receive an education.
Campaign Goal: $50,000
Deadline: November 13
Platform: IndieGoGo

The conservation lease program protects wildlife like lions.