In 2008, I had a chat with “American Idol” finalist, Broadway star and all-around big famous sensation during his first annual Golfing For Inclusion benefit at Palm Beach Gardens’ Mirasol Country Club, for what was then called the Bubel-Aiken Foundation. He was there to help raise money for the foundation’s goal of providing opportunities for kids with disabilities to attend camp, but not to share his mad golf skills, because he apparently doesn’t have any.
-Clay Aiken, right, shown with Wayne Player, left, is the host of the annual Golfing for Inclusion tournament for the National Inclusion Project held at Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens Monday.(Gary Coronado/The Palm Beach Post)
And today, at the third annual golf event to benefit what is now called the National Inclusion Project, Clay revealed that after three years and a couple of clinics with golf pro Wayne Player, his game…still has no game.
“I still don’t know anything,” Clay, chilling in a small room not far from the very rainy golf course where about 75 golfers were to be teeing off. “We do the clinic and I still don’t know what (Player) is talking about. I just stand there and make a few jokes.”
Still, Clay’s willing every year to be the test subject in Player’s clinics every year, if it’ll inspire people to show up, play golf and contribute to the cause, which has been dear to him since his pre-Idol days as a camp counselor in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, he remembers, was a little girl – “Let’s call her Jessica,” he says, who signed up for camp before anyone realized she had disabilities. Upon discovering Jessica’s situation, Clay remembers, the camp’s director, tried to send her away, “because I think the director and the camp were not educated that it was possible. I almost quit over that. But now, people know that it’s possible, easy and effective.”
What The National Inclusion Project has done is create a curriculum that can be used by already-existing camps to make their facilities accessible and fun for would-be campers with disabilities. For the third year, the foundation has donated $15,000 to a Florida facility – this year’s recipient is the Florida Lion’s Camp in Lake Wales.
Clay says the foundation’s new name makes plain what its goals are, unlike the old one, named for him and co-founder Diane Bubel, whose autistic son Clay tutored — “No one knew how to pronounce Diane’s name, including our executive director. Make sure you print that! They said Bubble, Babel, Buble’. Plus, no one knew what (the foundation) did, even with the minimal name recognition. But this new name has helped us reach out to a national audience.”
The event, which attracted about 75 people for golf and is expected to have about 200 for a dinner and performance by Clay this evening, was nearly turned into “Poker For Inclusion,” because of the soggy weather. But the foundation’s Kristy Barnes, who was a counselor with Clay back in the day, reports that most everyone stuck it out and played nine holes or so before retiring into the club to play cards, while “talking about how much fun they had.”
Since the first event, Clay’s life has changed somewhat – he finished a stint on Broadway in “Spamalot,” came out on the cover of “People” magazine, and in the summer of 2008 had a son, Parker Foster Aiken, with friend Jaymes Foster (sister of producer David Foster). He says that parenthood has helped the cause of inclusion “resonate even more” with him than it did before.
“Before, Diane Bubel always talked about this from the perspective of a parent, and I didn’t understand. But this year, me and Christy, who is also a new parent, were putting together the video for our gala, and we finally thought ‘We know now what heartstrings we need to pull.’ Before, we would have asked the question, ‘How would you feel if you were left out, if you weren’t included?’ and now we’re asking ‘What would you do if it were your child,’ because now, that’s so much more powerful to us.”
Still, Clay laughs, his golf game is not, nor is his interest in watching sports in general – “I don’t have the patience for it,” he says. “But I did watch the Vikings and the Saints play, and I was somewhat intrigued by it. If they could shorten the entire football season down to about a week, I could be into it!”
Cynthia…I must have missed that. Can you tell me when/where Clay questioned the integrity of other celebrities and their involvement in charities?
He never did, Joanie. He was asked in an interview soon after Katrina if he felt the need to rush down there & help. His reply was that he felt he’d only be in the way, that he understood why other celebs with ties to the area were doing so, but suspected there may be some who jump into things like that more for the publicity. He never named names & only expressed something many of us have felt at times. The haters (who seem to have gloomed onto this blog like a sinking ship because they live for places like this to spread their crap against everything Clay says & does), ever since have been screaming that “he only said this because he was just jealous that he wasn’t asked to perform in the telethon.” Just one example of the ridiculous spin they put on everything about him with not even the tiniest slice of proof.
Cynthia, I must have missed that. Can you elaborate on when/where Clay questioned the integrity of other celebrities and their charities?
‘But this year, me and Christy, who is also a new parent, were putting together the video for our gala, and we finally thought ‘We know now what heartstrings we need to pull.’
Quite manipulative. The work itself isn’t compelling enough for attendees of your charity function to contribute without trying to manufacture some artificial emotional reaction?
While commending Mr. Aiken for his charitable efforts, it is the artifice of his “aw shucks” milquetoast persona, and presentation, that is so unpalatable.
Are you a complete moron? EVERY charity manipulates & pulls on heartstrings to solicit funds. It is absolutely necessary to stand out from the thousands of other charities vying for our dollars. Ever seen an ASPCA or SAVE THE CHILDREN commercial? Do you really believe the venom you spew (which would make you an idiot) or are you just plain evil (trying desperately to make this charity fail). Please…… Aiken haters are some of the most manipulative creeps on the planet.
The internet is a wonderful invention but also has a downside. It is used as a weapon by unhappy people who glom onto celebrities whose lives are much more interesting than their own and take some kind of morbid satisfaction in trying to destroy their credibility.
How’s that working for you? Are any of you happier or more productive than you were 5 years ago? Or has years of doing this made you sink deeper into the bowels of depression and poor mental health.
Surrounding yourselves with all that hatred and negativity is not good for you, so do something productive today. Write a check to a charity of your choice and let others do the same. It’ll make you feel better.
Here, here, Elaine! Anyone with a brain knows that the only people commenting on this blog are Clay’s fans & a handful of idiots who hate him & have been spreading garbage about him for SEVEN YEARS now. No one else cares. So anyone pretending to be someone who worked with him who were treated bad (always anonymous, of course) or claim to be some kind of authority on his “dark side” (what, so he gets cranky now & then like every other human on the planet? The shock! The horror!!) or recite a list of “lies” he’s told (their interpretation only) like they’ve never bent the truth in their lives…. these people you can be sure are whack jobs. Because anyone who spends SEVEN YEARS trying to destroy a celebrity they don’t like, even going so far as to discourage people from giving to his very worthy charity, is in serious need of mental therapy.
The truth is that Clay’s fans accept him for who he is, just as any other diehard fan of any other celebrity does, without expecting him to be perfect. It is the haters who DO expect him to be perfect & will NEVER allow him to make normal human mistakes, that are a sad commentary on the dark side of humanity.
The National Inclusion Project is a wonderful organization that does amazing work with kids with disablilities. There are thousands of beneficiaries, witnesses, volunteers, camps & schools that can testify to same. It’s also highly rated amongst charity efficiency trackers. That’s all you need to know.
Tim, if you read the context Clay and Christy understand even more clearly how important inclusion is. When you’re a parent a different perspective is seen. If this is what you find to critique Clay, you need to get a life or a job or find another celeb to berate. You are very transparent in your hatred.
I didn’t care for the way Clay trashed the efforts of other celebrities assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Rumor has it that he was bitter for not being invited to participate in the telethon at the time. Whatever the reason for his sour grapes, it stuck with me ever since, and now that he is asking for money for his charity, it gives me great pleasure to say “DENIED!”
Putting down others to build up himself is a recurring theme with Clay. It is about time he got called out on it, and suffer the repercussions of such foolish antics.
on a side note:
Leanne:
Mr. Aiken has NEVER, EVER put down celebrities efforts, neither before nor after the Katrina disaster.
“RUMOR” is just that! made-up-lies-usually and you (and others like you) would do well to research what you base your belief system on.
Aiken was doing good for others long before being a celebrity was even an idea to him.
Article: This is a GREAT article!! Hope it catches peoples’ attention and causes them to give a little bit to the cause. Nice to see Aiken is still using his time to further a good cause.
Wish I had been there, would have loved to have heard him sing!
Leanne says:
February 2, 2010 at 2:47 pm
I didn’t care for the way Clay trashed the efforts of other celebrities assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Rumor has it that he was bitter for not being invited to participate in the telethon at the time.
“Rumor has it???” You mean that rumor you are trying to start now? I think it’s pretty obvious who the “bitter” person is.
Article: This is a GREAT article!! Hope it catches peoples’ attention and causes them to give a little bit to the cause. Nice to see Aiken is still using his time to further a good cause.
Wish I had been there, would have loved to have heard him sing!
This is a really good article based on facts and not “rumors.” Thank you.
I think I am starting to understand how this works. Clay and his fans engage in petty name-calling directed at anyone who doesn’t agree with him or share in his beliefs. I could call him and his sycophants “dumbasses”, since that is a word Clay has no problem in throwing around, but some of us have a bit more class than that.
Yes. You’re right. Want a cookie?
No, Clay shouldn’t have resorted to calling people names. It was not only disrespectful, but a stupid tactic, because it only caused attention to be directed at him for all the wrong reasons, and it also led to his having to admit to voting in the wrong county.
So if you are looking for blind loyalty, you won’t get it from me. One has to weigh the good and the bad, and for many of us, we have decided that the good far outweighs the bad.
Maybe I would feel differently if I had to deal with him in person, because I know there have been reports that he isn’t the easiest person to get along with. But you know what? I don’t know him except for the face he chooses to show us, and I like what he stands for at heart.
Yeah, I know the public face is at odds with the real Clay, but then who isn’t “putting on a show” to some extent when they get into the public eye.
I guess my point is, Clay is far from perfect, and some of the criticism levelled at him is justified, however he does a lot of good too, and that should be focused on more than it seems to be.
@Meg: Thanks for putting it so eloquently.
Being a fan of Clay has made many of us over-sensitive to any sort of criticism, no matter how fair. I can admit that.
Clay’s “halo” is crooked sometimes, and broken at other times, but what about all of the times when it glimmers and shines? Can’t we sing his praises, just occasionally?
They say trust is almost impossible to regain, and to those who have lost faith in him, I am truly sorry, but it is time to move on.
Clay has certainly burned some bridges over the years, and yes, it is true that he has a habit of judging others and engaging in middle school name-calling from time to time. He is a very opinionated person, and he would be the first to admit that. Trust that not all of his supporters blindly support everything he ever says or does.
So to his critics, we all know about the things he should have handled differently, from accepting a seat on a committee he refused to attend, to trashing songwriters and other artists, to the lies and exaggerations he engages in from time to time.
The thing is, it just doesn’t matter to many of us. I mean, we recognize that he has his flaws, some quite serious in my opinion, but in this case, I think he is trying to do the right thing.
Those of you who have been “burned” by something Clay did or said, I understand your concern, and I even understand how his association with this charity would be enough to write it off, but there are still quite a few of us willing to forgive and move on.
Clay voluntarily removed his own name from the charity, when he recognized that his polarizing character was potentially jeopardizing its success.
Hardly the sign of a megalomaniac, I would think.
I think it is important to point out that the National Inclusion Project received a 4 star rating from Charity Navigator(4 stars is their highest rating) Charity Navigator is a respected organization that evaluates charities to see that they are using the funds donated to them in the best possible way. http://www.charitynavigator.org/
Many people who have been involved since the beginning have worked very hard to see the vision of Children with disabilities included in activities that their typical peers have been able to enjoy realized…and the work has just become. Inclusion allows a Child with a disability to improve their social skills while at the same time educate and teach their typical developing peers(as well as adults) to understand that a lot of their fears and stereotypes regarding people with disabilities are unfounded…everyone benefits from Inclusion
If you volunteered just way day at one of the “Let’s all Play” camp grant recipients you would understand how much Inclusion can make a difference for ALL children.
And in defense of Mr Aiken…I think those of us who are parents recognize what he is trying to say…once you have a child of your own, things effect you much differently then before you were a parent and I think that is the point he was trying to get across…he recognizes even more so the importance of having YOUR child included and accepted.
Thank you for the excellent article on Clay Aiken and The National Inclusion Project.
It is amazing what he and his staff have done in such a short time.
When you read the list of educated people who have studied the results of Let’s Play Together, it is obvious that they are doing the right thing. I commend the staff and volunteers that have put together a wonderful program.
So sorry that these comments seem to have become way off-track.
Iam wondering why people who don’t like Clay are taking so much time to try and smear him.
When I don’t like someone, I don’t go over to articles about them. Well, anyone reading here will see that and get a good laugh.
What Clay and his organization has done for ALL kids is amazing. The National Inclusion Project is a leader in the field of inclusion. Thank you for writing about it.
Thank you to all those who have filled in on some of the background of Mr. Aiken. I appreciate the efforts of those individuals wishing to flesh out the article with some much needed background material.
Anyone who is the face of a charity needs to be scrutinized, and those who would call on covering up his past misdeeds has an agenda. I get that. However, I am also thankful for those who have helped me to get a clearer picture of the sort of man Clay is.
I wish him well in his endeavors, but there is just too much negativity in his past for me to consider supporting him at this time. A person who does not respect others, will not gain my respect.
My sister has an autistic son who got to attend one of the Let’s All Play Camps last year. For the first time in his five years, he was actively engaged with other children without drawing into himself, they even managed to get a smile out of him, something they thought would never happen.
The differeance National Inclusion Project is making in the lives of children like my nephew is amazing and they have my full support, as well as my sister obviously. Maybe one day there will be Let’s All PLay Camps in every state and city and all kids can just be kids together.
I find it sad that people feel the need to tarnish the reputation of someone.
It is OK not to like Clay. That is your choice. However I find it dreadful that people would sacrifice the good being done for children. Clay has NEVER done anything shady in his life. Yet, from the comments here, you would think he was a criminal. In the long run, who gets hurt by this? Clay??? no, he has always said he will never comment and give the “haters” the attention they are hoping for. It is the kids that are hurt……kids who need help. It just doesn’t make sense.
I would LOVE to know what someone like Regina has done to help children. What a poser!!
NEVER is a bit too strong a word. Admittedly, he did vote in a county other than the one he lived in, and got called out on it, so he had to change his registration. There was also his using an appointment to a Presidential committee for self-promotion, but not actually attending the meetings. Disparaging teachers, celebrities and even everyday citizens has been a bad habit as well. Even the minor stuff in which you wouldn’t think a lie would be necessary seems to come easily to him, like claiming not to know what “downstage” meant until he went to Broadway, despite a long history of having done stage shows in Raleigh.
I’m just saying that the idea that Clay is some sort of squeaky-clean saint needs to die a horrible death. It might be worthwhile to note why Clay seems to have so many “haters” as you put it. I think Clay had a lot to do with creating enemies where none existed before.
Again, stupid move from someone trying to reach out to raise money, and another sign of Clay putting his self interests ahead of everything else, even the welfare of his charity.
I think some people are having a difficult time in seperating the cult of personality that is Clay Aiken from the needs of children who are seeking help from this charity. I wish it were possible that the two weren’t so closely linked, as I feel so many more children would benefit without the shadow cast by Clay.
There are plenty of other charities that are doing incredible work for children. I would encourage anyone harboring doubts about contributing to an organization associated with Clay to look into donating to these other charities, and do some good.
I would just add for Jon’s benefit that it seems incredibly selfish of Clay to choose not to apologize, or choose not to comment, when his reputation, and by extension the reputation of his charity, is called into question. As you stated, it doesn’t matter one way or the other to Clay’s career, but can have a devastating effect on the children served by his charity.
That, in a nutshell, is an admission of the sort of man he truly is. Choosing ro flatter his stubborn and selfish pride over what is best for his charity. Well put, Jon.
You guys are so on a mission that it is sad. You know what you are writing is horrible and you don’t care.
Give it it up. Anyone with any sense at all would read agenda here.
What a shame that you think you know what you don’t.
Last post and visit here.
I am not interested in your agenda.
Reading these comments with interest.
I thought I must have been the only one who had a bad experience with Clay Aiken.
Nice to know I am not the only one.
I have a strong feeling that those who would continue to defend Clay have probably never actually had to work with him.
You are welcome to indulge in your idol-worship, but respect that not everyone shares in your fanaticism.
Speaking as one who mad the misfortune to work with Clay on a couple projects, trust me – there are far better individuals you could devote your time and attention to.
I have a strong feeling that those who would continue to defame Clay have probably never actually had to work with him.
You are welcome to indulge in your idol-defamation but respect that not everyone shares in your fanaticism.
Speaking as one who had the pleasure to work with Clay on a couple projects, trust me – there is no better individual you could devote your time and attention to.
What an immature response.
You had a pleasant experience working with Clay? I’m happy for you. It wasn’t the same for me, and I am not the only one. I never said Clay was a “bad” person all the time, but his defenders seem obsessed with pushing the idea that he is a “good” person all the time, which just isn’t the case.
You can continue trying to convince others that your “opinion” is “correct”, but nothing you say can change history, or make me forget the unfortunate experience I had working with him.
What an immature response.
You had a unpleasant experience working with Clay? I’m sad for you. It wasn’t the same for me, and I am not the only one. I never said Clay was a “good” person all the time, but his defamers seem obsessed with pushing the idea that he is a “bad” person all the time, which just isn’t the case.
You can continue trying to convince others that your “opinion” is “correct”, but nothing you say can change history, or make me forget the very pleasant experience I had working with him.
I do believe that Wayne Player has returned to co-host the event with Clay Aiken for a second time and perhaps even a third time.
A foundation started with a parent of a autistic child he tutored.
Also, Kristy Barnes, was a counselor with Clay before stardom is part of the Foundation.
Plus Jaymes Foster, sister of David Foster chose to have a son with Clay Aiken.
The above are all real people (not anonymous internet bloggers).All who have actually worked with Clay Aiken. All whom have chosen to continue their association with Clay Aiken either on a personal or professional level for years.
That tells me all I need to know about and to believe about Clay Aiken. Which, is as one person previously stated “there is no better individual you could devote your time and attention to.”
That’s GREAT! If giving to this “charity” makes you happy, then no one is stopping you.
People have just been expressing their concerns, based on Clay’s own actions and words. That is fair too.
What people like you fail to understand is that not everyone is going to agree with you, and that’s okay too. Some people feel that Clay’s association with this “charity” has tarnished it a bit, and that it has prevented it from doing better. Others disagree with this assessment.
It is exceedingly difficult to insult people one day, and then be the public face of an organization asking for money. Of course, some will give regardless of what Clay says or does. My argument is that even more money could be raised if Clay either removed himself from being the public face of the “charity”, or by changing his destructive attitude.
You, and others like you, believe that Clay’s words and actions haven’t had an adverse affect on the “charity”. I, and others like me, believe that it has.
I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this matter.
That’s GREAT! If giving to this “charity” makes YOU unhappy, then no one is forcing YOU. YOU = Faceless, nameless, could be anyone or the same person anonymous poster.
Of course “Faceless, nameless, could be anyone or the same person anonymous poster” like YOU have just been expressing their anonymous concerns. How fair is that.
What “Faceless, nameless, could be anyone or the same person anonymous poster” like YOU fail to understand is that not everyone
agrees with YOU or YOUR words or YOUR actions.
“Faceless, nameless, could be anyone or the same person anonymous posters” like YOU feel that they have to tarnish Clay’s association with this “charity” and so prevent it from doing better. Others disagree with YOUR actions.
It is exceedingly easy to insult Clay anonymously on the internet. My argument is that even more money could be raised if
“Faceless, nameless, could be anyone or the same person anonymous posters” like YOU either removed themselves and got a life or changed their destructive attitude towards Clay.
“Faceless, nameless, could be anyone or the same person anonymous posters” like YOU know that their words and actions have had an adverse affect on the “charity”. But then that is the sole intent of “Faceless, nameless, could be anyone or the same person anonymous posters” like YOU.
I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this matter.
This thread is still active?! WOW!!!
That said, the lack of respect for differing opinions is troubling.
If you want to disagree, fine, but do it respectfully.
Janie: Your most recent post came close to being a personal attack. I don’t think Clay Aiken would appreciate his name being defended in such a way. Just saying.
Calm down everyone… it is okay if the whole world doesn’t share the same views.
Janie, you are not helping.
You are only feeding the flames of hate.
If you read something you don’t like, ignore it, and move on.
This isn’t a debate you can win, and you only make your enemies stronger when you acknowledge them.
Clay doesn’t respond to criticism for a reason. Don’t you think he is right to do so? Don’t you see how you end up hurting the reputation of his fans when you engage in childish pursuits like this one?
Think about it!
I find it so very sad that children who could benefit from others largess will be slighted because of the narcissist attitudes of those same ‘people’ who have been blessed with the ability to give. You can’t see the forest for the trees. Give it a rest. This world is bigger than you but you don’t get it. It doesn’t revolve around you. You are petty and small.
Good point, but when does Clay’s name being attached to the charity become such a problem that it hurts more than it helps? That seems to be where the debate is.
No doubt Clay’s name scares off some donors, but because he has such an enthusiastic fanbase, some being incredibly well-off, he probably makes up for that lost revenue through the graciousness of a few loyalists.
This may mean the charity is making money, but could it be making more if Clay wasn’t the public face of it? I think the name change is a move in the right direction. I think making this less about Clay, and more about the charity, will pay off in the long run.
If I had my druthers, I wouldn’t have Clay anywhere near that organization, but he was somewhat involved in its creation, so it must be hard to show him the door, even if the organization would be stronger without him.
Thank you Jamie for clarifying your position. I feel I need to apologize for certain people on here who have been unwilling to disagree with you respectfully. Clay has fans who can be a little, shall we say, over-enthusiastic at times. They don’t handle criticism well, and feel it is their duty to tear apart others in their zest to defend Clay.
You should know that Clay does not condone these fans, nor the words they say. You should also know that not all Clay fans feel the same.
You raised some valid points. I even agree with your central premise, I just disagree on the proper plan of action to take. Clay’s actions have yet to be a deal-breaker for me, but I can understand how someone might feel differently about Clay if you were actually working with him day to day.
Thanks for being brave enough to share your story, and again, sorry for the poor manners of some of his fans.
I understand the need some have to lash out when they feel threatened. It is human nature. Some believe that covering up the bad, and pretending it never happened is the only way forward, but I just happen to think it is unhealthy to do that.
Some can’t forgive or forget, and so here we are in a state of turmoil. Two sides divided on what to do.
Thank you for being a voice of reason and supportive of dissenting views.