Alyssa Milano - Milano's Charity Birthday Wish

ALYSSA MILANO has decided to "give up" her next birthday - the actress is asking family, friends and fans to donate to charity instead of buying her gifts.

The Charmed star, a goodwill ambassador for The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), feels increasingly upset she can't do more to help needy children in the Third World as she gets older, but she's hoping she can use her 37th birthday, on 19 December (09), as an opportunity to raise money for the Charity: Water foundation - by foregoing presents and a big Hollywood bash.

In an article posted on the Huffington Post website, Milano writes, "I'm giving up my 37th birthday and it has nothing to do with vanity or nearing the big 4-0. I care about age when it pertains to those throughout the world who don't make it to their 37th birthdays because of a lack of clean drinking water and proper sanitation.

"I've travelled to the field and seen first-hand the devastation left behind by waterborne illnesses... Upon my return from the field, I count my blessings, and then, as time passes, I become frustrated with myself that I'm not doing more to alleviate the pain of those I met on my journey.

"It is because of this very frustration that I decided to give up my birthday. I have everything I could ever want or need. All I want is to provide life-giving water for 10 communities, 500 families and 2,500 people. This is my birthday wish."

Milano's well-wishers can donate to the campaign, which aims to provide clean drinking water to poor countries around the world, on Charity: Water's official website.