Look To The Stars News: National Inclusion Project

Clay Aiken Offers Download For Donations

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:30:00 -0000

Former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken is offering a free download of an unreleased song… but is encouraging people to make a charity donation in return.

“Just You” was recorded for his 2006 album A Thousand Different Ways but never used, and now Aiken is using it to raise money for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, an organization he created to bridge the gap that exists between young people with special needs and the world around them.

“Go ahead…. download the song,” he said. “It’s yours. Share it with your friends. It’s free. But… I want to make it count for someone… so let’s make it count for tens of thousands of children in the US with developmental disabilities. If you can’t afford anything for it… then don’t pay… but… if you can… I encourage you… I ask of you… that you make a donation to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation for how ever much you feel the song is worth. If you want to give $1… great. If you want to give $1000… GREAT… if you can only give $.05 … that’s fine too. It’s a tough time we’re living through nowadays, and non-profits are hurting more than ever as well. BAF (which will soon be known by a different name) has had amazing success in fulfilling it’s mission, and is embarking on a long term plan to continue including kids in every aspect of life. But, it will continue to need help from all of us in order to make that possible.”

To download the song, click here, but to make a donation or find out more about the foundation, visit their website.

“Consider this track a ‘charity recording’… donate whatever you can or whatever you are willing to… and accept our thanks.”

Who Is That On The Phone? It's Clay Aiken For Charity!

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Do you want to have Clay Aiken answer your phone? Well, now is your chance, with a new auction being run by the singer’s very own charity.

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation addresses areas of the disability community traditionally under-served, providing services and financial assistance, creating awareness, and recognizing ‘Champions of Change’. It was established by Aiken – a UNICEF Ambassador who has traveled to Banda Aceh, Indonesia and Kabul and Bamyan in Afghanistan, raising awareness and funds in support of education – after working with 13-year-old Mike Bubel while pursuing a career in special education.

As well as the chance to win a personal voice recording made by Aiken for your mobile phone, you can also bid on prizes such as the original score of “Proud of Your Boy” recorded and signed by Clay Aiken for Disney’s special edition release of the hit Aladdin, as well the original stool used by Aiken on his “Soft Rock and a Hard Place Tour” with local symphonies in 2007. Also up for sale are hockey jerseys signed by the singer and golf packages.

All proceeds go to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to bridge the gap that exists between young people with special needs and the world around them. The auction is open until January 24, and more information can be found here.

Clay Aiken Is A Champion Of Change

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Singer Clay Aiken performed at a special benefit for his own charity on Saturday night.

The 29-year-old sang at the 2008 “Champions of Change” event held in Raleigh on October 18 that honored companies and individuals who help promote the Bubel/Aiken Foundation’s mission give children with disabilities the opportunity to experience life with their peers.

Held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center, the event featured an auction that included a Tiffany bracelet, tickets to “Spamalot,” dinner with Aiken, clothing belonging to the American Idol runner-up, and a bust of his own head signed by Jimmy Kimmel!

The Foundation aims to bridge the gap that exists between young people with special needs and the world around them and provides services and financial assistance for the disabled community, creating awareness and recognizing ‘Champions of Change’.

Clay Aiken To Answer Your Questions

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:02:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former American Idol contestant and star of Broadway’s Spamalot Clay Aiken has teamed up with an internet social networking site to talk about his charity work and to host an indepth interview featuring questions directly from readers and fans.

www.gather.com has posted a video featuring the singer talking about his experience with his charity, the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, as well as his work with UNICEF. The site will then interview the star next week, and is calling for questions from the public.

Aiken established the Bubel/Aiken Foundation in 2003. The initiative grew out of a relationship between Clay Aiken and 13-year-old Mike Bubel, who had been diagnosed with autism. Aiken met the Bubel family while pursuing a career in special education, prior to competing on American Idol. The bond between the singer and the Bubel family grew strong as they shared a vision of a world where children like Mike could be fully immersed in society. Both Aiken and Mike’s mother, Diane, had witnessed children with disabilities repeatedly turned away from activities opened to typical children. They knew with the right support system doors could be opened to these individuals that had thus far remained closed. An organized effort could encourage and facilitate community inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities.

Aiken has also been a UNICEF Ambassador since 2004. In 2005, he toured tsunami-stricken Banda Aceh to highlight the need to restore education to young survivors. This was followed by a trip to Uganda to raise awareness of “Night Commuters” – children who flee the villages and towns every night to sleep in shelters in order to avoid kidnapping by the Lord’s Resistance Army. In 2007 he visited children in Mexico.

Questions for the Gather interview can be submitted to the site’s Music Editor, and the video can be seen at Gather’s special Clay Nation page.

Look To The Stars News: National Inclusion Project

Clay Aiken Offers Download For Donations

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