Last year at about this time, the National Inclusion Project won 50,000 dollars through votes on Pepsi Refresh and they're campaigning to win 50 K this year as well towards providing camps and programs that bring together children with developmental disabilities with children who don't have these disabilities . Clay Aiken, who co-founded the charity with friend Diane Bubel, has a birthday this month and it is his birthday wish to win again this year. Not only is this a great cause, but if you sign up at the National Inclusion Project page for a daily reminder, you will be entered into a drawing for an Ipad2! Please vote through a Pepsi account, Facebook and text messages and invite others to vote. Thank You.
This weekend I would like to honor 3 special mothers; my own and Faye Parker and Diane Bubel. Happy Mother's Day to these mothers and all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts and godmothers in the Clay Nation!
1. My Mother- Helen M. Coleman
"Where do I begin...." to describe my mother? She has done so much for me, my brother and the rest of my family. She didn't know when I was born 43 years ago and had mild cerebral palsy that she'd still be caring for me. She's a retired special ed teacher, mom of two, a mother-in-law, sister, a grandmother of two, and now a great grandmother. There's so much to write that would take more than just 1 blog post to describe. Thank you Mom!
2. Faye Aiken Parker
She's the mother of Clay Aiken. She has influenced his life strongly from when he was born, while he was growing up and long after, including before and after Clay became famous. She's also a grandmother to Parker and a friend to all of Clay's fans. Thank you, Faye.
3. Diane Bubel
She's a mother and co-founder of the Bubel Aiken Foundation, now known as the National Inclusion Project. Clay met her while he was studying for a degree in Special Ed at UNC-Greensboro and he worked as a caregiver for her son Mike, who has autism. Clay was going to try out for the Amazing Race, but Diane encouraged him to try out for American Idol. She and Clay Aiken founded the charity. It was originally a model charity that Clay made for his senior project in college while he was on Idol; but money came pouring in and the foundation became real. Thank you, Diane.
Thank you to these special ladies and Happy Mother's Day!
Posts
Image via Wikipedia
