SIX QUESTIONS FOR CLAY AIKEN
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 07, 2008
Clay Aiken is not the first celebrity to hold a golf tournament as a charity fund-raiser. But he may be the first one who doesn't actually golf. At all.
"I am barely a putt-putt golfer," said the American Idol finalist and advocate, who nonetheless is coming to Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens today for the first-ever "Golf For Inclusion" tournament to benefit his Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which seeks inclusion for young people with special needs.
"I don't think that I could successfully do it. We'll do some sort of clinic that shows you what to do. I could show you what not to do. (If I played) we could be there all day long waiting for me."
Whether or not Aiken will be teeing off, he's undoubtedly the draw for the event, which includes a clinic by PGA pro Wayne Player and a silent auction. Even though he didn't actually win American Idol's second season crown, the North Carolina native has become a bestselling artist and the object of affection of the Claymates, who form one of the most dedicated fan cultures since Beatles fanatics donned the mop-top wigs.
A few weeks ago, the very busy singer checked in for a brief few minutes to talk about his dedication to the cause of inclusion, his Broadway debut, and the Claymates' possible future in international politics.
Question: So you don't golf. Why a golf tournament?
Answer: The goal is that we've had so much success with other fund-raisers and grass-roots support, we wanted to branch out to make sure that other people who might be familiar with me and the career I have are aware.
My dream is that (the foundation) can exist, should exist, without me needing to carry it. We want (the fund-raiser) to be lucrative and at the same time, to appeal to people who definitely would not be the demographic that would show up for my Christmas tour.
Golf would definitely appeal to a group that would often (be dedicated) to philanthropy but probably not vote for American Idol.
Q. The golf tournament will specifically benefit something called "Let's All Play Together." Tell me about that.
A. It's the kind of program that was a dream of mine when we started the foundation, not just because of my background with special education or my relationship with the Bubels (a family whose autistic son Clay met while studying special education).
I worked at some YMCAs, and I saw so many opportunities for kids with special needs to be included in summer camps, and yet they weren't. In so many instances, they were turned away because the YMCAs didn't have the facilities or trained staff to deal with them ... The (one) I worked at was not equipped and wasn't very enthusiastic about trying. "Let's All Play" is essentially a summer camp that is inclusive.
If there had been this curriculum at the Y's when I was there, those kids would not have been turned away. That's why this is so exciting to me.
Q. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of the fans this summer, and they're the most loyal fans of anyone I've ever met. They're a little nutty, in a good way.
A. (Chuckles) I try my best to not use words like that. They're enthusiastic without question.
Q. I said, nutty in a good way! What is it about you that inspires all that devotion?
A. I do not see what they see. I don't understand it, to be honest. I guess my mirror must be broken. I often say that the coolest thing about (the fans) is not just that they come to shows, but that they do support things that are important to me, like UNICEF and causes that I support.
And it's not just financial. You would be amazed how many fans have gone to their local Boys and Girls clubs and lobbied to start an "Let's All Play Together." It's really amazing. We've had organizations call us and say "A lot of women have called us and said we need to look into this."
I've had fans personally organize tee-ball teams to use the curriculum ... Nationwide, groups get together and wrap gifts for free in malls, for awareness of the foundation. We have raised quite a bit of money. They don't just man the booths - they started it.
Q. That's impressive.
A. I have said many times that if some of these presidential candidates had these ladies working for them, they'd win. If there had been Claymates looking to find Osama bin Laden, we'd have world peace right now.
Q. I understand you're going to be on Broadway in Spamalot. How in the world did that happen, and who do you play?
A. I play more than one character - I play three or four people, but my major role is Sir Robin. This isn't anything I necessarily thought I would ever do.
They contacted me over a year ago to see if I had any interest in doing it, and I went to see the show and thought "This is the stupidest show I've ever seen in my life!" But it's just the silliest, and I said "Let's see - I am silly." It's not your typical Broadway show.
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