Clay Aiken, Fans Plan Chicago-Raleigh Weekend

IN CONCERT - Clay Aiken performs in a special Chicago concert Thursday and entertains at the Gala Benefit in Raleigh on Saturday. Graphic by AmazingCA, photos by Karen Eh.

NIP Aims for $50k Pepsi Grant

Chicago Sell-Out, Gala Fill Agenda

Clay Aiken and a huge contingent of fans are days away from a jam-packed weekend that opens with a sold-out Tried & True Concert at Park West in Chicago, IL, Thursday followed by the 2010 National Inclusion Project Champions Gala Benefit 862 miles away in Raleigh, NC, on Saturday.

Sponsored by WTTW, Chicago's PBS station, the exclusive one-night-only performance at the intimate Park West Theatre will feature the singer's chart-topping hits as well as tracks from his brand Decca release, Tried & True. The special 7:30 p.m. concert was declared a sell-out this week.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE in Chicago!
Double click to expand graphic by Fountaindawg.

While most fans will opt for a few hours in the air, some plan to drive the 800+ miles from Chicago to North Carolina for the Inclusion Project's annual Gala Benefit-Awards Dinner at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The Champions Gala annually celebrates individuals, corporations, and the National Inclusion Project’s impact on improving the lives of children and families across the country.

Saturday's event will include dinner, recognition of the honorees, silent and live auctions in support of the foundation's programs, and a special performance by Clay, who co-founded the organization with Diane Bubel of Charlotte, in 2003.

A VIP reception with the singer is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. For additional information, see schedule and tickets and live/online auctions at the NIP website.

Foundation To Honor Champions

Selected for their substantive efforts to ensure no child sits on the sidelines, the 2010 honorees include PepsiCo EnAble, I Am Norm, and 11 college friends, who took a school pal on the adventure of a lifetime in 2005.

They include Andrew Carson, Ben Smalley, Collin Shepley, Daniel Epting, Dylan Wilson, John Hadden, John Harmon, Jason Hees, Kevin Weir, Logan Smalley, and Sam Johnson.

Below are videos and capsules of the 2010 honorees. Extended bios of the 2010 champions are posted on the Inclusion Project website.

SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL - Pepsi's 2008 Super Bowl ad, Bob's House, was a unique and hilarious commercial illustrating a popular joke in the deaf community. It was created and enacted by deaf members of the Pepsico workforce, EnAble.

PepsiCo EnAble Champions Inclusion

PepsiCo EnAble creates an inclusive environment for people with different abilities. In line with PepsiCo’s values and talent-sustainability goals, EnAble seeks to promote physical, technological, and cultural opportunities to “EnAble” their people to realize their fullest potential.

With a global reach and partnerships such as those with Guiding Eyes for the Blind and Walgreens, as well as their own Accessible Technology initiative and Inclusive Advertising focus, PepsiCo EnAble is leading the way in real, measurable, and practical ways to make a difference for all people they touch.

I AM NORM - This brief documentary of the National Youth Inclusion Program's summit in January 2010 describes the group's goals. View full screen at YouTube.

20 Young People Form 'I Am Norm'

In January, 20 young people with and without disabilities flew from various locations across the United States to meet each other for the very first time in Washington, DC.

In just one weekend, the I Am Norm group designed a campaign in hopes of bringing about that change. Through this campaign, they hope to raise awareness about inclusion, provide opportunities for youth to share their ideas about inclusion, and promote inclusive practices in schools and communities.

ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME - The above trailer provides glimpses into this excursion with its goals. The entire video can be viewed at the Darius Goes West website.

'Roll of His Life' Builds Awareness

In 2005, eleven college friends -- Andrew Carson, Ben Smalley, Collin Shepley, Daniel Epting, Dylan Wilson, John Hadden, John Harmon, Jason Hees, Kevin Weir, Logan Smalley, and Sam Johnson -- decided to take their 15-year-old pal, Darius Weems, who had never left his hometown, on the adventure of a lifetime.

Cameras were rolling as they left Athens, GA, and headed west for Los Angeles, CA, with three goals in mind: to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the disease Darius has; to test wheelchair accessibility across the country; and to convince MTV's popular show "Pimp My Ride" to customize Darius' wheelchair.

Despite their lack of movie-making experience, the resulting documentary, Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life, has won 28 film festival awards, turned into a grassroots movement with a huge global fan base, and raised nearly $2 million for DMD research.

CAMP HOWE - Children with and without disabilities participate in a Let's ALL Play Camp. New camps will be funded with the $50,000 grant from Pepsi.

NIP Drops to #8 in Pepsi Refresh

"There are no words to explain what camp has meant for my son, who has never truly felt a sense of belonging to be recognized for who he is. What is the saddest thing is that he never expects to be recognized, because being overlooked is a way of life for him. I have never seen him look so sure of himself and so happy." - Mother of a son who benefited from an inclusion camp experience this summer.

Entering the second week of October, supporters of the National Inclusion Project are, hopefully, on the way to proving This.Is.The.Month for the foundation to land in the top 10 and secure a $50,000 grant in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

US citizens at least 13 years of age have a total of 30 daily votes to cast via text, Facebook, and through the Pepsi site. That's three votes a day for the National Inclusion Project from each eligible voter/account in a family. The remaining 27 should be spread among the charity's voting partners.

For supporters with limited time, the simplest way to vote is via text: #102308 to #73774 (Pepsi). Enlist texters singly and in groups (luncheons, dinner parties, school club meetings, etc.).

Imagine the immediate impact a fan-filled baseball park, football stadium, Chicago concert, or Champions Gala would have executing a group text for inclusion!

Register for Reminder, iPad Drawing

By registering at the National Inclusion Project home page, you will receive a daily voting reminder and be eligible for an iPad if the foundation wins the $50k grant this month.

In less than 10 minutes a day, early risers can easily vote through the National Inclusion Project's alliance list, as well as a second or third set of partnerships fans formed last month.

Just this week, new partners have been added to the NIP voting lists. In fact, charities have noted the faithful voting by NIP supporters and are requesting to be included in a group.

Thnx to Scarlett, fans can vote with the Carolina's new sidebar Pepsi Refresh widget or via the links below. Look for the widget at Facebook and in other Clay Aiken blogs.

NIP + Alliances

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
1p36 Deletion Syndrome - Text 101439 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Ella's Hope (autism) - Text 100288 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Oakland Children's Hospital (Rett) - Text 103134 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Int'l Foundation for CDKL5 Research - Text 102973 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Center for Courageous Kids - Text 102408 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Lake Reba Playground (handicapped) - Text 102102 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Congenital CMV Foundation (childhood disability) - Text 101692 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Empower Women (cancer research) - Text 103297 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:

National Inclusion Project just voted for you. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308.

Throughout September, NIP supporters exchanged votes with other charities. Choose Group A, B, or C (extra accounts) for your second/third rounds of voting. Leave a message similar to the one above so a vote for the NIP will be returned.

Group A

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
She Shall Go Free - Text 102913 to 73774 (Pepsi)
UNC Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - Text 103835 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Courageous Disabled Friends - Text 100058 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Girl Scouts of Eastern SC - Text 103373 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Fox Road Elementary School - Text 102179 to 73774 (Pepsi)
McKemy Middle School - Text 100283 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Saving Shelter Pets - Text 102190 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Fit Trix Fit Kidz - Text 102062 to 73774 (Pepsi)
SWOOP - Text 102191 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group B

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Libby Tennis Courts - Text 101307 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Rosie's Ranch - Text 101742 to 73774 (Pepsi)
The Bag Ladies - Text 101126 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Marine Science Center - Text 103443 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Cystic Fibrosis - Text 102534 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Hatch's House of Hope - Text 101703 to 73774 (Pepsi)
RATCO Freedom Foundation - Text 100570 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Earl J. Crowe Purchase SUV - Text 102913 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Eicosanoid Research - Text 103313 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group C (Extra Accounts)

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Tiger Crane Kung Fu - Text 101996 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Children's Rainbow Mountain Retreat - Text 100520 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Cal Ripken, Sr., Foundation - Text 102661 to 73774 (Pepsi)
The Blue Shadows - Text 101370 to 73774 (Pepsi)
ADERS (autism) - Text 101217 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Stop Suffering Dogs EPI - Text 102730 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Karo Grillo Golf Cart/WC - Text 101966 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Second Chance Wildlife - Text 100265 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Granara Skerry (pancreatic cancer) - Text 101844 to 73774 (Pepsi)
A Place Called Home - Text 103445 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Leaning Post Ranch (for disabled) - Text 102968 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Inclusion is giving everyone the opportunity to participate.
View montage by SueReu full screen at YouTube.
'Open Arms' performed by Clay Aiken.

Kai Keeps Grandma in the Loop

I talked at length with grandson Kai Friday evening. Actually, I mostly listened and asked questions while he chatted away about cars, trucks, football, basketball, Hawaii, among other subjects. His mother is usually nearby to translate any words I don't catch, but she was busy in the kitchen.

Lia has progressed to "hey" when we talk. Turns out she was my mystery caller a couple of weeks ago while I was teaching an afternoon of lessons at the academy. When I returned home and checked phone messages, there was one of silence that gradually evolved into a distinctive nibbling of crackers.

I dialed my daughter to see if Kai had randomly called me again. Upon hearing the description of near silence, she said, "Oh no, Mom, that was Lia! Kai would have started talking to you the minute he heard your voice on the machine."

Below is a clickable of the opening graphic by AmazingCA:

Happy Thanksgiving to the Canadians! Have an awesome new week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Clay Aiken Fans Share PBS Debut

Clay premieres first PBS Special at Chicago's WTTW-11.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True: LIVE!

Fans Multitask To View Special

Members of the Clay Nation have become expert multi-taskers, and various approaches were invoked to share Saturday's premiere telecast of Clay Aiken: Tried & True - LIVE! with all who wanted to "see" the show two months ahead of its August release date.

Many shuffled through multiple windows -- WTTW-11's LIVE CHAT augmenting Clay's PBS debut, "red reports" by residents in the Chicago station's viewing area, and "cellcerts" from many watching the telecast.

Several fans drove to the Chicago area to view the special in a motel room while others diverted spousal plans for dinner and a movie in order to sit at a computer, register a PBS pledge, and participate in this much-anticipated event with friends in the Clay Nation.

The photos interspersed in the following recaps were taken by 2Old4Clay as the Special played on the TV set in her motel room.

One of the funniest reports of the evening came from Adrienne1954, who posted at Clayversity:

I made my pledge from the ladies' room at the movie theater. I think everyone in there now knows my name, phone number, email address, and how much I pledged.

Coopersgirl wrote that she had to make her pledge call in the garage because she promised my husband she wouldn't charge anything else until they know how many trips will be needed for a family member.

I just couldn't help myself, and I know he will forgive me. He pays the bills, but I will try to beat him to the mail next month. I paid the bill for months after "Spamalot," and he had no idea how many times I saw the show.

PBS Recaps Spread Enthusiasm

The Clay Nation is blessed with members who either wrote running reports as they watched the show or full recaps from scribbled notes afterwards.

These posts by yaknelle, toni7babe, Poison Ivy, kwhite1022, claytonitis, Beagle3, and outback are interspersed with the photos by 2Old4Clay:

The DVD is supposed to have more banter in the intros to the songs. I was blown away by the production of this show. Everything from the sound to the lighting and camera work was perfection. You see Clay's face up close and personal. You see his emotions.

Yeah, I'm a fan girl, but I have never hidden that fact. I'm so happy this was so well-produced. He deserves a vehicle like this. It's simply beautiful.

OMG, I am DEAD after the ending of "Unchained Melody!" Standing ovation being shown, tears in Clay's eyes.

Phones seem to be ringing like crazy! Clay on now talking to them. He remembers being on his grandparents' floor waiting for "Sesame Street." He grew up watching PBS, and Parker will be able to do the same.

Tears in his eyes after "In My Life." (Clay sang this song to and for his former teachers gathered at the March concert.)

Phones seem to be ringing like crazy! Everyone is busy, and there's lots of excitement and buzz.

Pink said "Eso Besso" is one of the bonus songs on the DVD along with "Who's Sorry Now," which I loved.

I'm so excited. I just pledged for the DVD just as they were going into the third break. I told Jenny at WTTW that two relatives who live in Chicago area and know I'm a Clay fan called to tell me a PBS Special with Clay Aiken was on their PBS station and I should call in a pledge.

Of course I knew about it anyway, but that was so sweet of them to let me know. My cousin, who called from Mundelein, probably thinks I'm going to put him in my will now, LOL!

I have wondered all along if this one was successful if he would get the chance to do a Christmas special for PBS. I hope so, because there is nothing like hearing Clay Aiken sing Christmas music.

There were 40 people answering the phone, and they have been busy all night.

Spending the evening in the same room with Clay a few feet away is always a good time. The phones were going crazy and it was so hard to hear. We had to keep asking people to repeat information. Oh what a night.

Oh what a night! I hope it was a huge success for both Clay and WTTW!

Pink Armchair Hosts Live Chat

Pink Armchair, a CA fan and WTTW manager of media relations, hosted an online live chat that provided information about activities in the studio during the Special. Kudos to Pink and her team for arranging this preview telecast of the show!

Thank you gifts for the Clay Aiken Special include his new Tried & True CD ($50); the Tried & True DVD ($75); and a special one-night only Chicago concert on Oct. 14 ($250). The pledge drive is ongoing -- 1 (773-588-1111) and WTTW-Clay. The special concert is by phone only: 1 (773) 509-1111, ext. 6, weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CT.

Pink and Clay
Clickable

Pink: I think everyone here in the studio already loves Clay. [To which CA fans who know anything about Spamalot replied, "D101!!!"]

Linda, one of our regular phone volunteers sitting next to me kept turning to me and saying, "Oh my God -- the Bronx, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta! What IS this?"

She was amazed at the calls she was getting. The buzz in the studio was great, and the phones were ringing off the hook, which was wonderful to see.

They don't share numbers with me, but I could tell it did really, really well. And I think the other PBS stations will sit up and take notice, which is what we -- Clay, the producers, the station, the fans -- were ultimately working for. It was definitely a success, and we should all be very proud.

From Twitter: OMG! OMG! OMG! Linda Eder is singing w/ Clay Aiken on his concert special!!! They are dueting on the Orbison/Lang version of CRYIN' ...!!!

claysweetea: Last night's show was absolutely stunning! Clay's voice was so perfectly beautiful. What a glamorous production. Driving to a hotel in Chicago with a 32 inch flat screen was well worth it!!

wandacleo: After purchasing tour tickets for Reno and New York City, I swore I was absolutely NOT going to buy a ticket to the Chicago concert. I SWORE. I lied.

I emptied all my piggy banks this morning and took them to the Coinstar machine at the grocery store--$185.

Since that's mad money, the concert ticket REALLY only cost me $65 instead of $250. What a relief. Practically free, not counting hotel, airfare, food!

Typical of public television fundraisers, there were four pledge breaks during the telecast of Tried & True: Live! Below is video of the final one:

WTTW-11 PBS Special pledge break

There's Nothing Like 'Live Clay'

In her home, Aikim viewed Clay's PBS Special away from her computer, but she took excellent notes and afterwards shared a full account on two message boards. Non-members can read her complete report at Finding Clay Aiken as a guest. Parts of her recap are printed below:

Fabulous show! Clay looked stunning! They did not show the opening with his back to the audience. I know I said it wasn't one of my favorites, but I enjoyed "Mack the Knife" on the show.

I really love watching Clay sing and -- as good as he his recorded -- he is better live. He did this cute rubbing-his-fingers-together on "hard-earned cash."

Not too much banter. He did the "Clay Aiken tonight, tomorrow 'Menopause The Musical'" shtick.

Lots of shots of the audience and the orchestra. Next two songs were "It's Only Make Believe" and "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me."

Loved his version of the last song, not too different from the original. And again, "It's Only Make Believe" is not one of my favorites on the CD, but I loved it live.

On a studio break, Clay talked about PBS and watching "Sesame Street" and said he and Parker watch "Clifford, the Big Red Dog" in the mornings. Phones look really busy. "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" after the break.

Then - in my opinion - the best song of the whole special, "Crying" with Linda Eder. Amazing, absolutely amazing! This is my favorite on the CD. Heart-wrenching. Just sitting there watching these two amazing artists create this masterpiece -- I have no words for how good this is.

They didn't include the whole salute to his teachers, but Clay talked about being a loser and introduced Mrs. Stevens and then sang, "In My Life." I was so hoping he would sing this song. Been dying to hear it and was not disappointed. He looked verklempt singing it.

"Misty" just beautiful. "There is a Kind of Hush" -- love the jazzy version of this song. "Moon River" -- the fog machine was in full use, very nice. He really makes this his own, no visions of Andy Williams in my head while he is singing it.

Many thnx to all the fans who beamed their impressions of Clay Aiken: Tried & True: LIVE! to fans in other areas. Anyone with a computer could enjoy this special moment, a brand new phase in the singer's career.

Saturday afternoon Clay wrote about the PBS premiere in his blog, "New Beginnings":

Here’s to an incredible new chapter together … and, hopefully, many more "seven more years" of music!

How long is it until August? Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Monday, June 14: Siriusly Sinatra 6 PM ET
* Clay Aiken stops by to play some of his new recordings along with performances by our stars that he loves. Sirius XM Radio

Rebroadcasts: Thurs 6/17 9:00 am ET; Sat 6/19 3:00 pm ET

Happy Flag Day!

Chicago Premieres 'Clay Aiken Live!'

BACK IN TOWN -- Clay Aiken returned to his hometown of Raleigh, NC, to tape a PBS Special in March. Tonight the concert premieres on Chicago's WTTW-11, largest PBS station in America. Graphic by Fountaindawg, photos by Jim R. Bounds/AP.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True - LIVE!

WTTW-11 To Debut PBS Special

Whether you live in the Chicago area or not, you can participate in Saturday's debut telecast of the concert special Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! through a live chat on PBS station WTTW-11's website.

Fans fortunate enough to reside within PBS station's viewing area can watch the special concert from 7-9 p.m. CDT. WTTW-11 reaches 1.5 million weekly households over a four-state area (all of Chicago and parts of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan), making it the most-watched public television station in America.

Others can share the experience by participating in a live web chat, hosted in the studio by WTTW Manager of Media Relations Julia Maishin, known to CA fans by her PinkArmchair screen name. In addition to a play-by-play of the two-hour program, the chat will be a place people can ask questions and talk about what they are seeing.

Clay To Take Calls on Breaks

Saturday's special premiere of Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! will consist of the Raleigh concert taped in March with scheduled live breaks during which fans and patrons can ask questions and make donations to the public television station. Here are the specifics:

LIVE BREAKS (Revised)

Break #1: 7:16-7:24 pm CDT
Break #2: 7:43-7:53 pm CDT
Break #3: 8:13-8:25 pm CDT

PHONE NUMBER: 1 (773) 588-1111

According to Pink, during these times, Clay may circulate and pick up calls from people who pledge. Viewers and those following along can begin calling the station a couple of minutes before 7:16, throughout the broadcast, and afterwards. Calls during these breaks will be especially welcome.

Clay Aiken's Tried & True CD
Double clickable cover photo by Vincent Soyez

Pledge Gifts Feature CD, DVD, Concert

Thank you gifts associated with the pledge drive program include:

Tried & True CD - $55. Clay Aiken's brand new CD features 11 tracks including "Moon River," "Suspicious Minds, and "Can't take My Eyes Off of You." A PBS-exclusive audio track for "Build Me Up Buttercup," physical or digital download, is part of this package.

Tried & True DVD - $75. The special and DVD feature Clay performing 16 songs live including "Build Me Up Buttercup," "Who's Sorry Now," and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," with special guest Ruben Studdard. This DVD also has a behind the scenes documentary on the making of the special.

Tried & True Combo - $125. CD (physical or digital) and DVD.

Special Chicago Premium - $250. On Oct. 14th, Clay will present a special, one-night only, intimate benefit concert in Chicago at a 650-seat (accessible) venue. Seating is general admission. Phone pledges only so the station can track the numbers.

Supporters may group pledges into one call. Pledges for the CD and DVD can also be made online at WTTW-Clay. The station ships to Canada.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True Live! DVD
Double clickable

Local PBS Pledges Important

Other PBS stations will program Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! during August fund-raising drives. Fans are encouraged to make donations to their local station. However, to insure that the special makes a good showing in its debut airing, token pledges ($20, $30, etc.) are suggested for those outside the Chicago viewing area.

According to Pink, WTTW pledges, membership or token, will show other stations in the PBS system currently scheduling August pledge drives that there is much of interest in the program. "Nothing communicates that better than a lot of buzz and phones ringing when the hosts and guest are live on camera," she added.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! was produced by International Media with executive producers David Novik, Senior VP of A&R of Decca/UMG, and Gustavo Sagastume of Intl Media. Musical arrangements are by Chris Walden, Jesse Vargas and Ben Cohn.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Below are clickable graphics featuring photos from the concert taping. Artists include Fountaindawg, 1, 2, 3, 4, and AmazingCA, 5.

Clay Steps Out on 'PARADE'

Clay Aiken will appears in the celebrity question section of Sunday's PARADE. Ironically, the singer is the third personality down just below Monty Python's Eric Idle, who has been anything but idle since Spamalot.

An Idaho resident asks what's new with Clay and will he be touring soon in the western states. The Tried & True CD, as well as the Timeless Tour, are in the reply. Parade used a photo by David Foster & Friends that is featured in AmazingCA's graphic below.

If you missed Clay on Access Hollywood, you can view the video at the AH website.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

SATURDAY, JUNE 12: WTTW-Chicago PBS, 7 PM CDT
* Preview of Clay Aiken Tried & True Live! at Chicago PBS station ONLY.

SUNDAY, June 13: Chelsea Lately on E! 11:30 PM (rerun)
* Clay Aiken is here, seriously, with his new CD Tried and True. Comedians Ben Gleib, Loni Love, and Gary Valentine also guest.

Monday, June 14: Siriusly Sinatra 6 PM ET
* Clay Aiken stops by to play some of his new recordings along with performances by our stars that he loves. Sirius XM Radio.

OTHER Chelsea Lately Reruns: Monday, June 14, 3 AM; Tuesday, June 22, 12 AM and 3 AM.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21: Bringing Broadway Home, 8 PM
* One Night Only, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium Ticket Info

July 27: Release of Clay Aiken: Tried & True Live! DVD
* Pre-order at Amazon now.

Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro