Girl's final birthday wish inspires many to donate to charity

One girl’s selfless final birthday wish has, a year later, helped improve the lives of strangers thousands of miles away. On her ninth birthday on June 12, 2011, Rachel Beckwith asked that instead of gifts, loved ones donate to charity:water, a nonprofit that works to bring clean drinking water to impoverished nations. The goal was to raise $300, a mark she fell short of. Weeks later, Rachel was killed in a car accident July 20. Following her death, news of her story spread, and thousands began donating to charity:water in her name, raising $1.2 million, enough to provide clean water for 65,000 people in Ethiopia. [Source]