America’s Giving Challenge has come to an end and the National Inclusion Project, co-founded by Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel, came in a very respectable 13th. Congratulations to all who participated. Overall, the Challenge generated over $1,000,000 in total donations and brought attention to many worthwhile organizations. A thank you goes out to Causes, Parade, The Case Foundation and W.K. Kellog Foundation for sponsoring the Challenge.
The National Inclusion Project finished just under the Top 12 and they were well represented. While the final numbers for National Inclusion Project are not official, the Project ended with over 1,500 individual donations and $25,000 raised.
At the 2009 Champions Gala, Jerry Aiken, Executive Director of the National Inclusion Project, outlined the impact of contributions:
“All contributions are important and your support is key. For the little girl who often looks on at the swimming pool, unable to participate because of physical restrictions, $20 will give her the opportunity and assistance to enjoy an experience of her peers that she’s only hoped for. Every day a young boy sits at home, held back from playing with his friends at camp, because the facilities and staff there are unprepared to deal with a boy in a wheelchair. Your $25 donation will provide a staff member training to help that camper achieve his full potential at a camp with his non disabled peers. A donation of $1,000 will train the entire staff. Children with disabilities have the same desires that we do. Being stigmatized as a helpless person who always needs assistance can be hurtful. Your generous donation of $2,500 can fund a “Together We Make a Difference” program in a local classroom and can help remove the stigmas from a child with a disability by allowing them to serve alongside their peers”
So, what can $25,000 do? The $25,000 raised can give 1,250 children with physical restrictions the chance to swim. $25,000 can train the entire staff at 25 camps. $25,000 will fund 10 “Together We Make a Difference” service programs. $25,000 makes an impact in the lives of so many children.
Mr. Aiken also stated:
“From my first hand experience visiting camping and service programs, I can tell you that their effectiveness is real and that the benefits are obvious. One look at the smile on a child’s face when they enjoy an experience that they have been left out of for so long is all the proof that I need to know that we are doing very important and valuable work.”
Congratulations to the National Inclusion Project and all who worked so hard to make America’s Giving Challenge an amazing success.
I am very proud of what we accomplished with the America's Giving Challenge, $25,000 in donations will fund 2 camps for the children.
The National Inclusion project and Clay Aiken will be proud too.
Clay Aiken and the National Inclusion Project make a difference every single day in the lives of children. How proud and grateful I am as a fan to be able to participate in some small way through contributions to this wonderful cause.
Is fantastic news!!!.
A very good sum raised will help the cause of The National Inclusion Project
The ClayNation pulled together yet again for NIP. Way to go everyone.
Congratulations to all who helped to make this fund raising event an amazing success. It will do so much good in the lives of so many children. A child's smile is priceless. Way to go, NIP and supporters!
I think everyone in the Clay Nation who participated in this Challenge, be it by giving, recruiting or letting friends, relatives and neighbours know, deserves a hardy round of applause. We could not have accomplished this without everyone's assistance.
It is wonderful that the members of all the boards can get together and work on such a great cause. My hat is off to all of you.
SueReu,
Thank you for a wonderful recap of the National Inclusion Project'sachievement in America's Giving Challenge. I love your quotes from Clay Aiken.
Many thnx, too, for your kind remarks in the Carolina blog. Have a great weekend!
Caro
Thank you for the great recap! I'm so proud of everyone that participated in America's Giving Challenge! I really wanted them to be awarded the $10,000, but to have raised over $25,000 is AMAZING!! Clay Aiken and the National Inclusion Project are both doing wonderful work with children and this money will help them tremendously!
Thanks for the great recap. I'm so proud that we raised over $25,000 for NIP. Clay Aiken's NIP can do wonders with this amount of money to put smiles on many children's faces. There were many worthwhile charities in this contest, so I think we did really well in placing 13th.
I had hoped we'd earn the bonus award, but am proud of the $25,000 we did raise. It's great when the Clay Nation comes together to make a difference in the lives of special needs kids.