Clay Visited CT School Recently For UNICEF

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Clay recently visited Middlesex Middle School in CT according to a statement posted today on the Clay Aiken fanclub. The visit comes after the school won UNICEF's 2006 "Kids Heling Kids" challenge that saw kids being encouraged to help peers who were less fortunate. Clay visited several schools back in December 2005, including schools in Raleigh, Boston and New York City.

Here was the full statement from Team Clay:

05/10/06 / UNICEF Spokesperson Clay Aiken visits Middlesex Middle School in CT
AND THE WINNERS ARE … STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, AND TEXAS WIN THE UNICEF KIDS HELPING KIDS CHALLENGE

UNICEF Ambassador and 2005 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson Clay Aiken visits Middlesex Middle School in CT

Procter & Gamble Will Donate $150,000 to UNICEF in Honor of the Schools

NEW YORK, NY (May 10, 2006) - - The U.S. Fund for UNICEF today announced the winners of the first-ever UNICEF Kids Helping Kids® Challenge. Three schools won the nationwide fundraising contest which encouraged students to help vulnerable children by raising funds for UNICEF. This year's winners are Middlesex Middle School in Darien CT, which raised $14,209.34; Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School in Carlsbad, CA, which raised $13,203.65; and Lakehill Preparatory School in Dallas, TX which raised $8,473.96.

In support of the UNICEF Kids Helping Kids Challenge, Procter & Gamble generously offered to donate $150,000 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in honor of the winning schools. Each school was visited by a representative from P&G who presented a check to a U.S. Fund for UNICEF representative on their behalf.

"The winning schools did a tremendous job in raising money for their less fortunate peers," said Elva Lewis, associate director, P&G North America Corporate Marketing. "They are an inspiration to all of us at P&G as our Company's community relations focus is to help children in need live, learn and thrive. It is an honor to be able to recognize the commitment, tenacity, care and concern that these students have exhibited."

Students from grand prize winner Middlesex Middle School also participated in a service learning program. Students, inspired by what they learned in class, engaged in aggressive fundraising. The students made appeals to family and friends, conducted bake sales and even encouraged friendly competition between the grades to increase student motivation to fundraise. In one instance students created paper cut-outs of children's hands and for every $10 raised by a grade a cut-out hand was placed on a designated school wall. Additionally, high earning homeroom classes were rewarded with a private screening of Harry Potter at a local theater.

In addition to having a donation from P&G made in their name, the top-winner - Middlesex Middle School - was visited by UNICEF Ambassador and 2005 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson Clay Aiken. Multi-platinum recording artist Clay Aiken served as the national Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson. Throughout October, the Raleigh, N.C. native and former teacher, encouraged kids to participate in the program.

Today's announcement comes at the end of what has already been a historic record-breaking year for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program. The Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program raised a record $5.1 million dollars this past year. Since its inception in 1950, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has raised over $132 million to fund UNICEF's lifesaving work for the world's poorest and most vulnerable children.

This past year's campaign also marked the first time in the history of the program that funds raised were used to help American children. Fifty-percent of the proceeds went toward the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. It was the first time ever that the U.S. Fund for UNICEF encouraged American children to help raise funds for other American children.

"Kids are powerful fundraisers," said President of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Charles J. Lyons. "As evidenced by these winners, once kids learn how they can make a difference, they jump into action to lend support any way they can. The money they raised will help UNICEF to provide services to vulnerable children in the developing world in addition to helping American kids who suffered from Hurricane Katrina."

About the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in 155 countries and territories through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information about UNICEF or to make a donation, please visit www.unicefusa.orgwww.unicefusa.org or call 1800-4UNICEF.