BAF ANNOUNCES PROJECT GONZO CAMP IN NC

[Pamela]

An Inclusive Summer Camp Program for Children With and Without Disabilities at the Cannon Memorial YMCA

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Clay Aiken's foundation for children with developmental disabilities is conducting a pilot program with the Cannon Memorial YMCA. The West Cabarrus YMCA Summer Day Camp program will partner with the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to provide children with developmental disabilities the same camp experience as children without disabilities.

As a former camp counselor, Aiken noticed that children with special needs were unable to participate in programs due to the lack of staff members trained to work with children with disabilities or a staff:participant ratio that was too high to provide the necessary support. As a result, Aiken formed the Bubel/Aiken Foundation which serves to bridge the gap that exists for young people with developmental disabilities.

Children will participate in activities such as swimming, arts and crafts friendship building, community service, physical fitness and more. The pilot program will operate June 21-25 and July 19-23. Interested parents of children between the ages of 5-8 who could benefit from this program are instructed to contact the West Cabarrus YMCA at 704-795-9622. To register, stop by the West Cabarrus YMCA located at 5325 Langford Ave. between I-85 Exit 54 and Poplar Tent Road. Space is limited and will be handled on a first come/first served basis. Financial assistance is available. The Bubel/Aiken Foundation is providing scholarships for children to participate in this program.

The mission of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation is to provide services and financial assistance to facilitate fully the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of those without. With these goals in mind The Bubel/Aiken Foundation will provide the YMCA summer camp with the curriculum, special education training and funding for the pilot program, all of which will serve as a model to develop future programs with the YMCA and other organizations for children. Special education professionals Mary Anna Bingham, Polly Haselden and Ellen Jackson are designing the curriculum for the pilot program. Bingham is COO of LifeSpan, a nonprofit agency supporting over 1500 children and adults with disabilities throughout North Carolina and is pursuing her nonameblogger.D. in Special Education from UNCC. Haselden is employed by UNCC where she is pursuing her nonameblogger.D. in Special Education. Jackson is an instructor in the Division of Health and Kinesiology at the Mississippi University for Women.

For more information about the Bubel/Aiken Foundation visit their website at http://www.thebubelaikenfoundation.org . For more information on the YMCA visit their website at http://www.ymcacab.org .

YAHOO

[ANGELA]

That is such good news---I AM SO GLAD FOR THESE CHILDREN.

I AM SURE CLAY IS SO HAPPY HIS NEW LIFE STYLE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PUT BIG SMILES ON THESE CHILDREN'S FACE'S.

Pamela, thanks for this info.

ANGELA

[ClaysMD]

You know, I was a Girl Scout for many years and when I was 14, our troop served as volunteer counselors at this kind of integrated camp through the local YMCA.  I know that the kids seemed to really have a great time, and I can't tell you how great it was for a bunch of teenage girls to be able to work with and gain a better appreciation for kids of all shapes, sizes, and abilities as well.  I'm so happy to see Clay's foundation growing and making the kind of difference he hoped for.

[ClayJ]

This is Man named Clay Aiken is indeed A GENIUS! I have a Granddaughter..who has Developmental Disabilities. She only lasted one day in a "Regular Daycamp". They called my son to come get her, said she just didn't fit in, just couldn't stay, they said she upset the "normal" children. She's 11 , now in regular classes in school, but during the summer she has to have a sitter..they don't usually last over a few days either. Hopefully one day in Fort Worth,Texas we will have a program like this, so that other children AND PARENTS will not have to go through what my Granddaughter has. That is why I say Clay is a genius..He is also a wonderful, loving caring man!