Generation Clay

Thanks for this info to "CNN"  (ClayNationNews)


Broadway Cares Bear Auction

The "Sir Robin" bear, signed by both David Hyde Pierce (the original Sir Robin) and Clay, raised $17,000 in an auction to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids held on February 17, 2007. The Sir Robin bear went for more than any other bear in an auction that raised $127,000.
Check out all the auctioned bears at  http://www.playbill.com/  

Golfing for Inclusion, January 7th, 2008, Florida.
Wayne Player, son of Gary, was the guest golf pro for the fund raiser.



Thanks for this collage, Fountaindawg!

Over Christmas, 2007, Clay made another UNICEF Ambasssador trip, this time to flood-stricken areas of Mexico.
He took his mother and his brother Brett with him on this trip.
Clay has made it very clear that the children have no idea who he is, but they instantly recognize the UNICEF logo.
To them, UNICEF means hope, and help.
Have you made your annual donation to UNICEF?

Thanks to Fountaindawg, who created this collage.

Clay visits Banda Aceh, in March 2005, as UNICEF Ambassador for Health and Education. Here we see him with the children of Banda Aceh during their meeting on the beach.

This is an excerpt from FLY (online) magazine....
          November, 2005 issue.

FM: You’re almost becoming as known for your humanitarian work
as you are for your music. Why is that so important to you?

CA: I kind of came into this not necessarily wanting to or knowing how to be a celebrity
 or whatnot. I mean, I was a teacher! And I made a promise to myself as I did it.
 “If I’m gonna do it, I’m  gonna try to be something other than self-serving.”
 I  think that every single person who’s in this industry
and who’s a celebrity and making moneyoff the public
– I make my money directly from  the public –
 has the responsibility to pay them  back in some way.
I think each person in my position is a role model, whether they want to be or not.
 Somewhere out there are kids who look up to you.
And some people  take that seriously, and some people don’t.
To me, I don’t understand why people don’t  take it seriously.

UNICEF does amazing work. I thought I was a worldly person,
 and then I started working with them and realized I don’t know
as much of my world as I need to. And if I don’t know as much about my world
as I need to, then many, many, many people don’t. 
So I’m thrilled to be in a position to be able to talk about it. And so I’m gonna.

Clay received a wonderful award at the Florida convention


This is from a post by GBB at the Clackhouse. Thanks to GBB, if she approves my bringing it over; my apologies if she doesn't. 


Quote: ( from GBB)

 I had to transcribe Gary Barg's introduction of Clay at the Today's Caregiver Convention in order to use some quotes in CNN. I thought you guys might appreciate reading the whole thing. It's really very beautiful.

Quote:  ( Gary Barg's speech upon giving Clay the award.)

" In the last ten years, as editor in chief of Today's Caregiver Magazine, I have interviewed many people who are living in the public eye, all of them having something of importance to say to family caregivers. Most times they've become caregivers after becoming famous, usually due to themselves or a family member taking ill. Our keynote speaker today is unique in that he is a professionally trained caregiver before he became known to all of us. And through the unbelievable constraints that have been placed on his time, he's never lost sight of his goal of becoming a teacher and helping children living with developmental disabilities. Only his classroom has become a whole lot larger than he ever expected.

One other positive effect of his personal dedication is that as he increases the awareness of children with developmental disabilities and their need for inclusion, he's also created a dedicated and knowledgeable group of child advocates, also known as his fans. I've spoken with many of Clay's fans here, at the Hawaiian Voices for Change Gala, online and through our support of the Florida Voices for Change Gala, and I've got to tell you, they've become true ambassadors for inclusion, driven and knowledgeable in all aspects of inclusion. The bell has rung and Mr. Aiken's classroom is now truly in session across the world.

It's also our true privilege to present the Robert M. Barg Memorial Achievement Award to Clay. This award is very special to our hearts as it is named after the kindest man that we have ever met, our dad. It's rarely given and only presented to those who share that special brand of kindness and who work hard to truly make a difference in the lives of those in need. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. Clay Aiken."

Clay just as he is about to receive his award. What a happy moment!

Support the Bubel /Aiken Foundation at  www.thebubelaikenfoundation.org