Clay Aiken news update: Clay Aiken in Tsunami area, Clay Aiken Kids Choice, Clay Aiken to Present the "Able To Serve" Awards.

- Clay Aiken went to tsunami area in Indonesia -

Clay Aiken, UNICEF ambassador, recently toured the Indonesian province of Aceh, one of the areas hit hardest by the December 26 tsunami. "The trip was for fact-finding purposes," Clay Aiken told the Jakarta Post. "There are citizens in the U.S. who have offered their time, effort, money and resources and there are some who try to find out where their money is going and what type of work is being done."

Although media has set tsunami aside from its spotlight, the world has not yet called a halt upon the assistance given in order to rebuild the devastated countries. One of them came from Clay Aiken, the US goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. He visited the Indonesian devastated province, Aceh, on March 14-16.

"My purpose of coming here is to ensure that the aid given from the USA have been used correctly," said he during an interview in Aceh.

- Clay Aiken Kids Choice -

Clay Aiken's track "Invisible" is currently available on Nickelodeon's "Kids Choice" CD.
The Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards are broadcast April 2, 2005 on Nickelodeon.

- Clay Aiken With Youth Service America to Present the "Able To Serve" Awards -

Youth Service America and the Bubel/Clay Aiken Foundation are pleased to announce the Clay Aiken ABLE to SERVE Awards, which will provide 50 grants of up to $2,000 each to youth with disabilities for community service projects on National Youth Service Day, April 15-17, 2005. Youth Service America is partnering with four premiere national organizations that work with youth with disabilities, Best Buddies, Special Olympics, National Service Inclusion Project, and VSA arts, to distribute the grants.

The Able to Serve Awards will provide young people with disabilities the opportunity to work side-by-side with youth without disabilities to serve their communities. Award winners will be eligible for an additional grant of $1,000 for the purpose of continuing the service project beyond National Youth Service Day.

"Service, and the learning that goes with it, fosters citizenship, knowledge, and personal development in everyone, young and old, with disabilities and without," said Clay Aiken, who was appointed National Ambassador for the US Fund for UNICEF in 2004. "Our partnership with Youth Service America will bring awareness to the fact that youth with disabilities are great assets and can serve as volunteers too."

Clay Aiken, whose debut album "Measure of a Man" sold nearly 3 million copies, has long been passionate about working to help youth with disabilities. Before his success on American Idol catapulted him into stardom, Clay studied Special Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He taught and mentored a student with autism named Michael Bubel, and formed a close bond with the Bubel family. In 2003, Clay Aiken and Michael's mother Diane Bubel launched the Bubel-Aiken Foundation to create awareness about the diversity of individuals with disabilities and the possibilities inclusion can bring.

"Nickelodeon Kids Choice" new CD (feat. Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Alicia Keys...) ORDER IT NOW.