Good News from The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF) today. The Foundation announced that over $500,000 in grants have been given out to support programs all over the U.S. as a part of the Let’s All Play initiative.
Over one million dollars has been invested over the past two years to expand the Let’s All Play program. The purpose of the program is “to assist child and youth organizations in moving toward full inclusion.” The inclusion experience was instituted by the Foundation in 2004.
In 2009, the Foundation will support over 30 recreational programs. Besides the grant funding, the Foundation will provide a program model and training for the camp.
The Center for Social Development and Education at the University of Massachusetts in Boston was asked by the Foundation to assess the implementation of Let’s All Play in 2008. The results were exciting. The evidence showed that “campers with disabilities improved self-esteem, social skills, social relationships with campers without disabilities, general engagement in camp activities, and sport/motor skills.”
According to the Foundation newsletter, over 5,000 children will participate in the inclusive experience this summer.
The Foundation also announced today that The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation has invested $360,000 in new and continuing grants to TBAF. Altogether, they have invested $3.2 million in the Foundation’s 5 year Inclusion Initiative.
The newest inclusion project is a joint venture between TBAF and the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. This is a three year project that will be a powerful voice for change in summer learning for all children. The partners will, “expand access to high-quality, inclusive summer learning opportunities for young people by developing a summer learning curriculum to help summer camps fully include youth with disabilities.”
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation also announced the date of the 2009 Champions of Change Gala. The celebration will be held on October 17, 2009 at the Raleigh Marriott City Center. More information will be coming soon.
Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel should be so proud of what they have accomplished with TBAF. Congratulations to the Foundation, their staff and all the volunteers that have helped the Foundation make an impact on children all over the country.