Birthdays! Time for cake, ice cream, friends, and of course PRESENTS!!! But what if you did something different this year. Instead of gifts for yourself, you asked friends to donate to a favorite cause!

Law and Order: SVU star (and chef Bobby Flay‘s wife) Stephanie March is doing just that. On July 23rd, she will be turning 36, but instead of goodies for herself, she is asking for everyone to make a donation on the website “Give Up Your Birthday” to her favorite charity, The World of Children.

Stephanie wrote a piece for the Huffington Post talking about her decision to give on her birthday, and asking others to join in.

In youth-centric Hollywood, birthdays are sometimes met with mixed emotions. But I’ve found the best way that anyone can embrace any birthday is to remember how fortunate they are to be growing another year older and use it as an opportunity to give back.

That’s why this year I’m Giving Up My Birthday – happily and readily – for children in need by supporting the nonprofit World of Children Awards in their tireless efforts to improve the lives of children worldwide.

If YOU would like to help Stephanie on her goal of raising $25,000 for Wolrd of Children Awards, or want to set up a page for your OWN birthday go to Give Up Your Birthday.

You can always have the cake to celebrate, too.