CDD's Renee4Clay's BAF Work Spotlighted

The Ahwatukee Republic spotlighted Clay's Daily Double's renee4clay's work with this years Bubel Aiken Foundation Wrapping For Inclusion campaign. Renee also posted this heart warming story last week.

Gift wrappers aid disabled kids
Kristin Park
Special for The Republic
Dec. 19, 2005 12:00 AM

While the rest of us may be completing our gift shopping, Renee Fitzgerald of Tempe is helping children with disabilities.

Fitzgerald, Arizona coordinator for the Bubel Aiken Foundation, and her group of 20 volunteers are wrapping gifts and collecting donations. The foundation's mission is to provide grants and services to young people with disabilities while facilitating greater inclusion. "I love to support this foundation because it is opening doors for kids with disabilities and giving them a chance to experience things that were not open to them before," said Fitzgerald, 53.

This is the second year Fitzgerald has organized a gift-wrapping effort for Bubel Aiken, which is based in Raleigh, N.C., and was founded in 2003 by singer Clay Aiken.

Her volunteers are of all ages, from teens donating community-service hours to retirees. They spend four-hour shifts in front of stores, armed with holiday paper and tape.

Recently, a group of students with mental disabilities at Marcos de Niza High in Tempe spent their lunch break wrapping their teachers' gifts for Fitzgerald's cause. The teachers donated money to the Bubel Aiken foundation.

With nine gift-wrapping locations statewide, Fitzgerald and her volunteers have raised nearly $1,000 so far. Southeast Valley locations include Changing Hands Bookstore, Borders and Barnes & Noble. The volunteers will continue wrapping gifts until Christmas Eve.

To volunteer or donate, please contact Renee Fitzgerald at renee4clay@yahoo.com. Some locations and times:

-Today: , 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Borders on North Alma School Road in Mesa, across from Fiesta Mall
-Tuesday, 3-7 p.m., Borders, 870 N. 54th St., Tempe.
-Friday, 3-5 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 3807 S. Gilbert Road in Gilbert.