THE NATIONAL INCLUSION PROJECT

[Pamela]

Stories for Heroes Special Holiday Offer

NEW YORK, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arthur Celebrity Audiobook, featuring Clay Aiken, Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Kelly Ripa and more of today's hottest stars, is now available in a special Holiday offer to benefit several children's charities. For every Audiobook purchased, an additional copy will be donated directly to the USO, Toys for Tots, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or the Polar Express Reading Challenge.

This offer is available through Dec. 31 at http://www.storiesforheroes.com/donation ($14.99).

Seventy percent of the net proceeds from the sale of each Audiobook will continue to benefit the three original Stories for Heroes charities: The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National Education Association -- Health Information Network.

Individuals or groups can also donate the Audiobook directly to the charity of their choice for a discounted price of $10.00. The special Holiday offer gives everyone a chance to enjoy the critically-acclaimed Arthur Celebrity Audiobook as well as place a wonderful gift in the hands of deserving children everywhere.

YAHOO

[Invisible Touch]

I volunteered to help with Wrapping for Inclusion in December and had a great time!  I have heard that it was a great success and they plan to do it again for the 2005 Holiday season.

In the mail today I got a hand written thank you note from Fran Skinner-Lewis.  It made my day!  I know that there were well over 100 volunteers for this project across the country, it meant a lot to me to get that.  

Clay has definately opened my heart and mind to individuals with disabilities. I have already been a big supporter of TBAF, but getting this note, just makes me believe even more in the leadership in this organization.  Clay definately knew what he was doing when he picked Fran!!

I look forward to other opportunities to support TBAF and encourage everyone else to do the same!

[KSChristian4Clay]

I got mine on Friday! Wasn't that just awesome?! I appreciate the fact Fran took the time to personally hand write all the thank you's. I loved volunteering for Wrapping for Inclusion and plan on volunteering wherever the BAF needs help.

[KSChristian4Clay]

Thought I might pass this on. Trudy e-mailed the totals for Wrapping for Inclusion today. Here is the e-mail:

Dear Volunteers:
 
We are pleased to announce that WFI 2004 grossed $61,065.77.  The
Bubel/Aiken Foundation and the members of the management team want to
thank you once again for your dedication to this project during a very
busy holiday season.  Raising this amount during our first year is
phenomenal.
 
We look forward to working with you once again during WFI 2005.
 
Sincerely,
 
Trudy Littleton
National Project Coordinator
Wrapping for Inclusion 2004
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation

I am proud! We did an awesome job for the first year with this project.

[ILClaymate]

Kristy Hall was scheduled to speak last week at a conference in Garden Grove, CA.

2006 CAHPERD STATE CONFERENCE
Hyatt Regency Orange County – Garden Grove, California
March 9-12, 2006

<snip>

ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION and RECREATION

Inclusion in Recreation:  Adapted Physical Education and Summer Fun

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation is providing services and financial support to facilitate the full integration of children with disabilities into life environment.  Learn about the fun, play the games!

Speakers: Kristy Hall, Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Raleigh, NC and Jody Rose-Dressler, San Mateo County Office of Education

CAHPERD

[clayniac4ver]

the bubel aiken foundation is a wonderful cause

that clay started

alyse

[aikenseeker]

Upcoming events updated from BAF!

July 31 - Jerry Aiken and Aron Hall to appear on NC Now
Jerry and Aron will speak about the Foundation, its mission, and its program on NC Now - broadcast by North Carolina Public Television. (Air Date will be announced later.)

August 1 - Jerry Aiken and Diane Bubel to speak on the Lime Network.
Jerry and Diane will appear on Sirius channel 114 to speak with Karen Salmansohn about the Foundation and its relationship with Goodsearch.

August 28 - Clay Aiken to appear on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" Celebrity Edition (Taping)
Clay will compete on the popular game show with all winnings going to the Foundation. (Air Date will be announced later.)

[Moonshot]

8/05/2009
An open letter from co-founders Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel:

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation grew out of the relationship between the two of us and Diane’s son, Mike, a 13 year old with autism. The bond between us grew strong as we shared a vision of a world where children like Mike could be fully immersed in society. We had both witnessed children with disabilities repeatedly turned away from activities opened to typical children. We met while Clay was pursuing a degree in special education at UNC-Charlotte.  As part of that pursuit, Clay completed an independent study project where he created a foundation that focused on providing the support system for recreational and educational programs around the country to open doors to children with disabilities that had thus far remained closed.  We realized that an organized effort could encourage and facilitate community inclusion and empowerment of individuals with disabilities. This shared goal grew into reality on July 28, 2003 when we officially announced the creation of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

In the six years since, the Foundation has established itself as a leading voice for inclusion working with a “Who’s Who” list of youth organizations – 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.  The Foundation has formed partnerships with 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 FPG Child Development Center.

In 2008, both of the Foundation’s cutting edge inclusion models – Let’s ALL Play and the K-12 Inclusive Service Learning Program – were closely evaluated with overwhelmingly positive results.  Children with and without disabilities in these programs saw growth in motor skills, social skills, and self-esteem, and the impact of the friendships made will last long into the future.

In six years, the Foundation 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.  With your help in raising awareness and funds through projects like Wrapping for Inclusion and Change for Change as well as local fundraising efforts like cookbooks, gatherings, and online donation drives, the Foundation has dedicated the vast majority of every dollar into making an impact with our programs. As we realized the impact the Foundation has already made, it became apparent that even bigger accomplishments could be on the horizon.  To that end, we along with the rest of the Board decided that a new name for the Foundation would establish long-term credibility and stability.  We sought a name that would signify the Foundation’s position as a national leader on inclusion as well as recognize the Foundation’s start and the efforts of its faithful supporters.  After much thought and deliberation, we are proud to introduce the organization we co-founded as the National Inclusion Project.

The National Inclusion Project is poised to continue to make an impact with thousands of children nationwide as well as raise the national consciousness about the need for and benefits of inclusion.  We are excited beyond measure to see Clay’s original “project” become one that so many people have invested time, energy, and dollars in to see doors opened for children who may have never gotten the opportunity to participate in life the way their peers do.  The National Inclusion Project is moving forward hand-in-hand with supporters, families, program providers, and other advocates to see the vision of full inclusion nationwide become a reality.  Please join us in our push to make a difference in communities all over the country.


National Inclusion Project

[Moonshot]

I have updated the information in the first post by Pamela to reflect the changes in the organization.