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Clay Aiken – Dragon Con

By musicfan123 · Comments 11750(7)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fclay-aiken-dragon-con%2FClay+Aiken+-+Dragon+Con2011-08-31+07%3A21%3A36musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D11750
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Have you ever heard of Dragon Con?  According to their web-site, Dragon Con:

is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe!

Launched in 1987, Dragon Con started out as a project of a science fiction gaming group.  Today, the organization meets yearly on Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. 1,500 volunteers staff the convention that hosts approximately 40,000 members at five hotels in downtown Atlanta.

Each year, the organization chooses a charity that they support during the Dragon Con event.  This year they chose The National Inclusion Project as the official charity of the year.  To help raise money for the charity, Dragon Con hosts a charity auction and a Charity Artwork Project

Besides their work for the charity of the year, the Dragon Con has a huge blood drive.  Last year over 2500 attendees donated over 7,000 units of blood.

The following write-up about the National Inclusion Project is on their official website.  It would be wonderful if some much-needed money can be raised. Another great thing is that more people are introduced to the wonderful work done by the National Inclusion Project.

We are excited to announce that our charity for Dragon*Con 2011 is The National Inclusion Project.

The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them. We partner with communities and inclusive programs creating awareness about the possibilities that inclusion can bring.  Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate.  The National Inclusion Project works every day to make full inclusion a reality.  Since their inception, they have made a real impact by ensuring that children nationwide can experience all that life has to offer.

Through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, the National Inclusion Project is leading the way for inclusive communities nationwide. “Let’s ALL Play” provides a program model for recreational programs seeking to improve the way they implement inclusion.  “Together We’re Better” is an effective service learning curriculum tool that teachers and program providers can use to help all children make an impact.  The National Inclusion Project also offers other grants for those seeking to make a difference in their communities with inclusive programs and families seeking to benefit from inclusive programs.

The National Inclusion Project has worked with hundreds of programs, trained numerous staff members and leaders, and provided inclusive opportunities for over 20,000 children.  This far-reaching impact would not have been possible without the dedicated support of countless volunteers and supporters.  The National Inclusion Project has dedicated the vast majority of every dollar into making an impact with our programs.

A donation to the National Inclusion Project provides maximum impact in communities as they move to being fully inclusive. $25 allows a child with disability to go swimming with their peers for the first time. $100 provides a field trip for children to experience their community together. $1000 provides curriculum, training, and supplies to implement inclusive service learning. $5000 opens the door for five children with a disability to spend a week at camp with their friends.

Click here to make a 100 percent tax deductible donation to The National Inclusion Project today!

I am proud to support The National Inclusion Project.  I hope that the week-end event raises much needed revenue for them.

AND…don’t forget…this is the last day to vote in the Pepsi Refresh project.  $50,000 will help so many children!

 

 

Comments 11750(7)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fclay-aiken-dragon-con%2FClay+Aiken+-+Dragon+Con2011-08-31+07%3A21%3A36musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D11750
Categories : Clay News
Tags : Atlanta Georgia, Clay Aiken, Dragon Con, Let's All Play, National Inclusion Project, Pepsi Refresh, Tried & True

Clay Aiken – Volunteer Round Table

By musicfan123 · Comments 10059(7)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2010%2F10%2F19%2Fclay-aiken-volunteer-round-table%2FClay+Aiken+%E2%80%93+Volunteer+Round+Table2010-10-19+15%3A34%3A07musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D10059
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

 

On Saturday, October 16th, The National Inclusion Project hosted an outstanding event.  The successful Champions Gala was filled with hope, encouragement, motivation, friendships, good food, generosity and, wonderful music by Clay Aiken and his back-up band.  It was a wonderful celebration of an extraordinary year.

One of the most interesting events of the weekend was held Saturday morning.  Billed as a volunteer round table, the meeting was hosted by Aron Hall and Jerry Aiken.  Priscilla Brame and Diane Bubel were also there to help.

After a short overview of the Pepsi Refresh Project, Aron and Jerry took a moment to share the successes of the foundation.

  • 80 cents of each dollar goes to the children
  • 20,000 children have benefited from the National Inclusion Project
  • There have been 110 programs in 38 states
  • $5 million has been invested to advance inclusion

The participants were told that the 18 Let’s All Play camp programs that were initially funded are all continuing with the program.  Although they no longer qualify for funding from the Project, inclusion has been integrated into their daily practices.

25 programs were funded by the project in 2008, 31 programs in 2009, and 45 programs in 2010.  The programs have taken place in 23 states, including Alaska.  The goal for 2011 is 50 programs!

Jerry stated that the work of the foundation is a social movement and they are working for social change. One of the Project’s beliefs is that every child can make a friend, can participate, and can be successful.  He emphasized that it is not about dropping standards, but finding a new and unique path for success for each child.

It was mentioned that there are three important components of a successful inclusion program:

  • Children with disabilities
  • Accessible activities provided for them
  • Positive relationships with other children

The Saturday workshop was filled with many ideas and suggestions for successful Let’s All Play programs and the morning went by quickly as the group was involved in a “hands-on” presentation.  There was so much positive interaction and each participant went away, filled with hope, excitement and the determination to share this information with the world.  Many of the attendants were interested in getting more training and wanted more information on the regional Let’s All Play training.

Aron talked about some of the projects that have been successful in raising support for the National Inclusion Project.  He stated that each program can be duplicated and that those who started the project are willing to pass along the information to make it run easily.

1.        Wrapping For Inclusion….there is a detailed analysis of the best dates and places and examples of stories that can be used by volunteers.

2.       Black-tie Yard Sale….an upscale yard sale.  Invite antique dealers and members of clubs in the area.  Hold it at a historic home.

3.       Roll N Stroll….It has been very successful in New Jersey and Ohio.

4.       “Toy Day”….various large trucks and equipment are placed in an area.  Children are allowed to climb on them and ask questions of the operators….think fire trucks, bulldozers, tractors.

The National Inclusion Project is just seven years old, yet it has partnered 110 projects in 38 states and invested $5 million to advance inclusion.  They have become the leader in recreational/social inclusion.  What an amazing accomplishment!  Let’s all stand up and work to see that this wonderful work continues until inclusion is the norm and the National Inclusion Project is no longer a necessity!

Comments 10059(7)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2010%2F10%2F19%2Fclay-aiken-volunteer-round-table%2FClay+Aiken+%E2%80%93+Volunteer+Round+Table2010-10-19+15%3A34%3A07musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D10059
Categories : NIP/TBAF
Tags : Aron Hall, Clay Aiken, Decca Records, Diane Bubel, Jerry Aiken, Let's All Play, National Inclusion Project, Pepsi refresh Project, Priscilla Brame, Roll N Stroll, Tried & True, Wrapping For Inclusion

Clay Aiken – Let’s Make Difference

By musicfan123 · Comments 10047(3)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2010%2F10%2F09%2Fclay-aiken-lets-make-difference%2FClay+Aiken+%E2%80%93+Let%E2%80%99s+Make++Difference2010-10-09+07%3A53%3A56musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D10047
Saturday, October 9th, 2010

It’s important that I make a difference in some way.  It’s not necessarily how I make a difference, but I want to make sure that I do….Clay Aiken

Whenever I see this famous quote from Clay Aiken, my heart swells and I just have to smile.  I think back, with pride, at how many ways Clay has already made a difference for so many people.

I would imagine that most of Clay’s fans are trying to find a way they can make a difference too.  Today, CANN will highlight one way that we can help.  Even with our hectic lives and the difficult economy, we can participate in this project.

The Way We Make A Difference


The Way We Make a Difference began with a simple idea – that of fostering the cause of inclusion with a donated concert ticket. Thanks to your support, people with and without disabilities have been able to experience the joy of attending a concert together. Some of the organizations we have worked with include Best Buddies, Special Olympics, YMCA, The Arc of the United States and Ronald McDonald houses.

Mamarose, the owner of the Clay Board, is one of the founders of The Way We Make A Difference. She posted the following information about the latest ticket push.

The Way We Make A Difference Ticket Project would like to announce that we will be accepting tickets/donations for Clay’s upcoming Tried and True Tour!

If you find you have an extra ticket or two to donate, we would welcome them!

For anyone not familiar with our project, TWWMAD promotes inclusion by offering a chance for people with and without disabilities to share in the excitement of seeing Clay in concert.

If you have tickets you would like to donate, please email us at ticketdonation@thewaywemakeadifference.org

We will be posting more information on the upcoming tour after the Gala.  Also, if you have made a previous donation to the project and have not yet received a tax donation letter, they will be sent out following the Gala.

Thanks in advance for helping us to make a difference, one concert ticket at a time!

What a wonderful and easy way to support Clay and the objectives of the National Inclusion Project.  We can make a difference!

We are in the middle of the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.  Are you voting 3 ways, every day?  This is an important way to make a difference.  It doesn’t cost the supporters any money, just a few minutes of their time each day.

The following e-mail was sent out to supporters of the National Inclusion Project.

Help Us Make the Climb!

We are excited to be participating in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.  We are competing in the $50,000 category and need to be in the top 10 to win.  We need your help to spread the word so we can bring Let’s ALL Play training to more programs across the nation and open doors for ALL children to participate in all that life has to offer!

Voting Instructions
1. Go to www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject
2. Click “Vote for this idea.”
3. It will prompt you to sign-in. Log-in with your email address. (If you haven’t already, you can register very easily.)
4. Click “Vote for this idea” again. (This is very important!)
5. You will know you voted when you see the “Votes left today” change to 9.
6. You can then log back out and log-in with Facebook if you have it and vote again.
7. You can also text the numbers 102308 to Pepsi (73774).
8. Share your vote on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Message Boards.

How Do I Share With Others?

1. Home Page Splash: Check out all the ways you can vote by visiting our home page!  www.inclusionproject.org
2. Daily Reminders: Tell people to sign up to receive a daily email reminder and become eligible to win a free iPad if we finish in the top 10 and win $50,000!  Sign up here: www.inclusionproject.org/pepsi
3. Facebook/Twitter Updates: Join us on Facebook and Twitter!
4. Forward this email by clicking the link below.  Share the content on message boards and blogs.
5. Are you doing a live event?  Do a group text! Have the attendees turn their cell phone sounds on and walk them all through sending a text together!  When Pepsi texts back, the feedback will be amazing!

The Importance of Voting Alliances

We have established a voting alliance with other participants in the Pepsi Challenge.  This offers us the opportunity to tap into more spheres of influence to garner votes.  It also helps build awareness of who we are with people who might not know.  Pepsi has given you 10 votes per day to use (technically, 30 since you can vote 10 times each on texting, Facebook, and email). We would like to ask that you vote for the following in an effort to concentrate our focus in these last two weeks!

Click on the link or type www.refresheverything.com followed by their tag in parentheses. You can also text the number following the link to 73774 to give them another vote!

*International Foundation for CDKL5 Research (/curecdkl5 and 102973)
*Oakland Children’s Hospital and Cardinal Glennon (/rettclinic and 103134)
*Ella’s Hope (/ellashope and 100288)
*CMV (/ccmvfoundation and 101692)
*Center for Courageous Kids (/courageouskids and 102408)
*1p36 Deletion Support (/1p36 and 101439)
*Lake Reba (/lakerebaplayground and 102102)

Today’s Featured Partner:
The Center for Courageous Kids

The Center for Courageous Kids, located in Scottsville, KY is a year round medical camp designed specifically for children living with medical challenges who could not attend a traditional camp.  A 501(c)(3) not for profit, we are dedicated to uplifting children living with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.  The Center for Courageous Kids has currently served over 6,000 children with various illnesses, disabilities, and conditions from across the country. Please vote! Your vote makes a difference in the lives of so many children who are medically fragile. Vote on www.refresheverything.com/courageouskids or text 102408 to Pepsi at 73774! MANY THANKS!

Thank you!

Thank you, Clay Aiken, for opening our eyes and hearts and helping us to step up and make a difference.

Comments 10047(3)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2010%2F10%2F09%2Fclay-aiken-lets-make-difference%2FClay+Aiken+%E2%80%93+Let%E2%80%99s+Make++Difference2010-10-09+07%3A53%3A56musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D10047
Categories : NIP/TBAF
Tags : Best Buddies, Center for Courageous Kids, Clay Aiken, ClayBoard, CMV, Decca Records, Ella's Hope, Lake Reba, Let's All Play, Pepsi Refresh Challenge, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Special Olympics, The Arc of the United States, The National Inclusion Project, The Way We Make A Difference, Tried & True, YMCA

Clay Aiken – A Leading Voice For Inclusion

By musicfan123 · Comments 5810(22)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2009%2F08%2F06%2Fclay-aiken-a-leading-voice-for-inclusion%2FClay+Aiken+-+A+Leading+Voice+For+Inclusion2009-08-06+07%3A44%3A51musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D5810
Thursday, August 6th, 2009

It started out as a project for college graduation.  Today, it is a leading voice for inclusion so that all children can be fully immersed in society.  It is the National Inclusion Project.

By this time, most of us know the history and the hard work that has been put into the National Inclusion Project. And I am sure we all want to congratulate Clay Aiken, Diane Bubel and the entire staff of the National Inclusion Project for all their success.  It has been a joy to watch their vision become reality.

Like many of you, I spent some time reading the new web-site for the NIP.  It is all very impressive.   I was amazed at the incredible list of names that are tied to the Project in its quest for inclusion.

The National Inclusion Project works with many different organizations including:

“YMCAs, Best Buddies International, Boys & Girls Clubs, CampFire USA, 4H, the ARC – as well as many other local parks and recreation departments, community centers, and privately-run programs.”

And look at the impressive list of institutions that have formed partnerships with The National Inclusion Project.  They include:

“Johns Hopkins University’s National Center for Summer Learning, the University of Massachusetts-Boston’s Center for Social Development and Education, the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability, the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center.”

Next, I visited the Annual Report.  It was interesting to read about the 35 programs across the country where children of all abilities have a chance to play and learn together.

Perhaps the most impressive statement on the page is short, but telling:

“During the financial crisis of 2008, the National Inclusion Project managed funds very conservatively and did not experience any investment losses.  In addition, 89% of every dollar spent went directly to inclusive programs.”

This makes it easy to decide to support the Project, especially when you know the money is being used correctly.

If you haven’t had a chance, take a look at the new web-site. It is full of interesting facts and you will come away with a feeling of pride for this great accomplishment.  Clay, Diane and their dedicated staff have done so much in bringing awareness of inclusion to the public.

Comments 5810(22)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2009%2F08%2F06%2Fclay-aiken-a-leading-voice-for-inclusion%2FClay+Aiken+-+A+Leading+Voice+For+Inclusion2009-08-06+07%3A44%3A51musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D5810
Categories : Clay News, NIP/TBAF
Tags : 4H, Best Buddies, Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Campfire USA, Clay Aiken, Diane Bubel, Johns Hopkins University, Let's All Play, National Inclusion Project, University of Massachusetts, University of New Hampshire, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, YMCA

Clay Aiken – Foundation News

By musicfan123 · Comments 3348(5)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fclay-aiken-foundation-news%2FClay+Aiken+-+Foundation+News2009-03-31+17%3A21%3A30musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D3348
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

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.


Comments 3348(5)http%3A%2F%2Fclaynewsnetwork.com%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fclay-aiken-foundation-news%2FClay+Aiken+-+Foundation+News2009-03-31+17%3A21%3A30musicfan123http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claynewsnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D3348
Categories : Clay News, NIP/TBAF
Tags : Clay Aiken, Inclusion, Let's All Play, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation

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It is not always about performance art, but about receiving positive energy from people with positive spirits. Sometimes we can see someone's spirit, and those are the people with great energy. Those are the people that get me through the day, especially on Broadway. -Clay Aiken

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