Sun Sentinel - Celebrity Travel with Clay Aiken!

The Sun Sentinel features Clay in their feature on "Celebrity travel". Clay was interviewed about his UNICEF trip last year to Afghanistan:

As a UNICEF ambassador, Clay Aiken gets to travel the world. The singer says one of his favorite countries has also been one of the most unlikely: Afghanistan. (Eric Ogden/Tribune Media Service)

Clay Aiken is in the news a lot these days. Besides getting good reviews for his performance in the Broadway musical "Spamalot," the former " American Idol" contestant is busy promoting his latest album "On My Way Here."

But the congenial redhead is keeping mum about the juicy tidbit that has the tabloids drooling: becoming a baby daddy with his good friend Jaymes Foster, who also executive produced his CD. Aiken is more vocal about his love of music and traveling. "There are no plans to tour at this time," says Aiken, 29. "I'd love to tour but there's just no time right now with all the other things going on. I think I've had just one day off in the past few months. It's crazy, but in a good way." A former teacher, Aiken was appointed UNICEF ambassador in 2004. Between touring and making field visits for UNICEF, Aiken has seen a good chunk of the world. But he says he will never forget the beauty and grace of Afghanistan and its people.

WHY AFGHANISTAN: Honestly, I prefer to go to places where no one else goes that haven't been ruined by the touristy thing. I don't know if I would've ever gone to Afghanistan if it hadn't been for my work with UNICEF, but it has been one of my favorite places I've ever been in my life. I stayed eight days there in the central highlands of the country in an area that was relatively fortunate when it came to Taliban attacks. Bamyan is in the central part of the mountains and it is just such a beautiful area.

FAVORITE MEMORIES: I remember going to vacation bible school as a kid and reading about how people lived in biblical times with earthen huts and traveling on horses. I remembered that when I walked around Bamyan. You walk around town and all these huts have satellite dishes on top of them and everyone has cell phones, but a lot of people still sleep on their floors. It's a fascinating combination of new and old. The people there were so nice and welcoming.

[...]

Clay To Speak on Special UNICEF/Delta Kappa Gamma CD

Here's some news about a special UNICEF CD that Clay will be a part of! According to the Clackhouse via The Clayboard, a special announcement will be made this month about a CD produced by Delta Kappa Gamma and UNICEF where though Clay will not sing, he will speak about Afghanistan. The CD will be sold to raise funds for The Afghan Teacher Training Project. Delta Kappa Gamma is a professional honor society of women educators who is involved in this project. Janice Moen, the International Music Representative of the society, has written the following information about the CD on her blog called Moen's Musical Moments:

Music for the Afghan Teacher Training Project

There will be an exciting announcement made in Chicago this July. Delta Kappa Gamma has teamed with UNICEF to produce a CD that will serve as a fund-raiser for the Afghan Teacher Training Project. We are so excited to tell you all about it. The CD features the song "We Sing for the Children" which Northwest members sang in Vancouver, B.C. last summer. There is an update on the work being done in Afghanistan and interviews with Afghan teachers, UNICEF staff and the popular singing star Clay Aiken. You will be able to get a CD by making a donation of $15.00 or more at the convention.

In addition, after receiving several questions about purchasing this CD, Ms. Moen writes the following info at Moen's Musical Moments about how the CD can be purchased:

The CD will also be available after the convention. It will be sold through Delta Kappa Gamma and at the United Nations Gift Shop. All the proceeds, wherever purchased, will go to the Afghan Teacher Training Project.

Clay Aiken will only be speaking on the CD. He is a US Fund for UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Here is some additional information I found online at Delta Kappa Gamma's International site about this project:

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International - Afghan Project

The current project for which Delta Kappa Gamma has partnered with UNICEF is funding for teacher training in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's education system is in a state of virtual collapse. Aside from the war damage to the country, the Taliban regime barred girls from the classroom and prevented the majority of teachers, who are women, from working. As an international women's organization dedicated to excellence in education, an opportunity exists for Delta Kappa Gamma to become a key partner in improving the education of hundreds of thousands of Afghan children.

Members of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International are invited to join the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support a partnership in education which includes a compelling training program for educators in Afghanistan. UNICEF has been entrusted by the Government of Afghanistan and the Ministry of Education to play a major role in the reconstruction of the national educational system.

Please download and print out the US Fund for UNICEF's brochure, which contains a contribution form and give as generously as you can to this worthy project.

Clay couldn't be working with a better organization!

As more information becomes available about this project, we'll let you know.

Sun-Sentinel Reports On Clay's Travels To Afghanistan

The Sun-Sentinel's Jae-Ha Kim apparently writes articles about celebrity travel. In the July 6 edition, she writes about Clay's travels to Afghanistan with UNICEF. She starts out her article by saying:

As a UNICEF ambassador, Clay Aiken gets to travel the world. The singer says one of his favorite countries has also been one of the most unlikely: Afghanistan.

Before talking about his journeys, Clay first says that there are no plans for a tour right now...that he is just too busy right now.

"I'd love to tour but there's just no time right now with all the other things going on. I think I've had just one day off in the past few months. It's crazy, but in a good way."

Then the rest of the article tells us a little about his trip to Afghanistan. She asks him why, what his favorite memories are, about roughing it, and sightseeing.

In a nutshell, Clay says that Afghanistan was one of his favorite places to go. He says the people were very nice and there is a good mixture of both old and new there. Where he stayed was nice and quiet, as well as "bare bones". And Clay prefers to see real life in action rather than go sightseeing.

To read the entire article go to sun-sentinel.com. Its a great read.

One Year Ago This Week...Clay Was Riding High....

June 10, 2007, and Clay was riding high...on a horse that is! This time last year Clay made a grand entrance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on a horse to the surprise of everyone in the audience and those watching at home.

Jimmy introduced Clay in this way:

Our first guest tonight is one of the most intimidating figures in pop music; he's the head of the Claymates, one of the most dangerous and powerful music cartels in all the world, on July 4 he kicks off his Symphony Tour in Dallas, Texas. Please say hello to my best friend in the whole wide world...Clay Aiken!

And in comes Clay smiling, talking, and waving at the crowd! The crowd loved it! And Clay, in spite of having a bit of laringitus, was quite talkative that night.

Clay talked quite a bit about his UNICEF trip to Afghanistan and what his role is as an ambassador. We learned that he ate raisins and rice and lost 10 pounds while over there, about him growing a beard and wearing the native dress to fit in with the culture and then finding that no one over there was dressed like that! Jimmy showed some great pictures of Clay in Afghanistan.

After talking for several minutes, Jimmy mentioned that he just noticed something...that Clay appeared to be on a horse! After coming back from the commercial, Clay had gotten down off the horse and Jimmy and Clay continued a great interview, including discussion of a pin that was given to Jimmy which included the term "Climmel". Jimmy seemed to approve.

Next topic was Clay's symphony tour. Jimmy covered a lot of topics with Clay and it was definitely an appearance that Clay fans will never forget!

And, in case you have forgotten, Clay's appearance on JKL made it on AOL's "TV's Top 5" for June 10. In addition, it was voted the best of the clips for that day by AOL's readers.

If you'd like to see Clay's appearance on JKL, check out Parts 1 and 2 by samtaycai at YouTube:

JKL Part 1, 5/10/07
JKL Part 2, 5/10/07

Here's a 50 second video from Claym8t at Youtube to whet your appetite for more:

Afghan Embassy Posts Write Up About Clay's Visit

The Afghan embassy in Washington D.C. posted a great write up about Clay's spring 2007 UNICEF visit to the country. Clay traveled throughout Afghanistan during his trip to observe the programs UNICEF has put in place for Afghan children. He held a press conference in Kabul where he said that "Rebuilding schools, training teachers, providing essential supplies and teaching materials are just some of the advances UNICEF and its partners have made to keep that hope flourishing."

UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador and former star of American Idol Clay Aiken visited Afghanistan to create awareness about the promise of hope for the youth of this war-torn country.

Aiken visited schools in Kabul and the central province of Bamyan with the country’s representative for UNICEF Catherine Mbengue and Aiken’s own former teacher Mary Props.

“As a former teacher, I recognize that spark of hope and excitement all children possess when given the opportunity to learn,” said Aiken. “Rebuilding schools, training teachers, providing essential supplies and teaching materials are just some of the advances UNICEF and its partners have made to keep that hope flourishing.”

Aiken was elated to learn that over six million children are “piling into broken down buildings and UNICEF tents everyday to catch up on the lessons they have missed out on for years. That’s if they are lucky. Many, if not most, haven’t even the luxury of a tent. Just a dusty ground outside in one of the world’s most beautifully scenic landscapes. And still, they come to class. Many walk for miles; for hours…I have never in my life seen such a thirst and excitement for learning, seeing children, women, men, boys and girls to be so excited about learning, to be so excited about being in school. The people are perhaps its most valuable natural resource,” he said.

Clay's UNICEF Field Report Released

If you contributed $50 or more to Clay's UNICEF fundraiser last month, you will have received Clay's personal UNICEF Field Report about his trip to Afghanistan in your emails today.

Update 5/26: looks like this has arrived for our Canadian fans too! Claynadian fans who donated $50 or more should check their emails for a message from UNICEF Canada.

Great Article About Clay's UNICEF Trip in The Raleigh Chronicle

"Clay Aiken Raises $181,783 For Children"...This is the title of an article in The Raleigh Chronicle about Clay's UNICEF trip to Afghanistan. This article is great, and it gives the details of the huge amount raised just recently by Clay's fans.

The article starts by saying:

Through his fan network around the world, Raleigh resident and recording artist Clay Aiken has raised nearly $181,783 for children in war-torn Afghanistan.

But it then tells its readership that not only was the $100,000 in 10 Days Campaign reached in a couple of days, but those donating sent in well above the $100,000 in that amount of time, nearly $140,000, and then went on to raise an addition $40,000+ to make a total of almost twice the original amount requested.

The article then tells of a young girl that Clay met and how the funds will be used:

"On my trip, I met Fwazia. She is 11 years old. Fwazia attends a unique school where boys and girls from grades 1-9 share classes and study in the open. The school is in urgent need of funding to buy tents and materials to build a new school. This will give more children the opportunity to go to school," said Aiken in the campaign drive.

In addition, there are six large pictures of Clay interacting with the children in Afghanistan. The Raleigh Chronicle outdid itself with this article which will spread the word of the outstanding work Clay is doing for UNICEF and hopefully encourage more people to donate to this worthy cause.

Clay Mention on TV Guide Channel

The CB's claybeclay reported a Clay sighting tonight on the TV Guide Channel. They showed a clip of Clay in Afghanistan:

8:05 pm EST. Lookin good. Has anybody seen this?

Afghanistan footage....sporting new beard, etc.
Usually they repeat so I will try to watch again.
I was on the phone and didn't catch everything.

So glad they are showing some of his humanitarian work.

Clay Visits WNYC To Talk About UNICEF

Clay dropped by WNYC-FM in New York City today to talk about some of the recent work he has been doing for UNICEF including this month's trip to Afghanistan.

"I found a very different country while I was there. Kabul is growing and thriving, people are getting back to work, children are getting back to school. It's a country really trying to put itself together after decades and decades of trouble," Clay remarked in the 10 minute long interview.

You can download the full cap at this link:

Download the cap here at SendSpace

Clay Talks About Afghanistan on The Today Show

Clay surprised us all and showed up on The Today Show on Thursday, 4/25. He is getting good at tiptoeing around and showing up at places before the fans know about it!

Clay talked with Al Roker, David Gregory and Dr. Nancy Snyderman about his trip to Afghanistan. At the All Day website is an interview Dan Fleschner had with Clay before he was on The Today Show. Here is that interview:

Q: When did you get back from Afghanistan, how long were you there and what were you doing?

Clay Aiken: I got back on Wednesday, and I was there for about two weeks. It was a really eye-opening experience and was interesting because a lot of stereotypes were broken down for me. The people there were wonderfully nice, and the country was really beautiful and peaceful. It was a little surprising because of all the news we hear from over there.

[Clay sees a video clip of President Bush dancing with a Senegalese dance troupe in the Rose Garden on Wednesday]

What in the world is he doing? Please, be joking.

[He regains his train of thought.]

I was observing programs run by UNICEF, observing schools where women are getting an education, often for the first time in their lives.

Q: Why were you particularly attracted to this trip?

CA: I used to be a teacher. I was a special-ed teacher in North Carolina, so there was some synergy there.

Q: You're familiar with our "Where in the World is Matt Lauer" series, which begins on Monday. What's the most interesting place you've been to, and where would you like to go that you haven't been to before?

CA: Well, definitely Afghanistan was the most interesting place. Not just because it was exotic and dangerous, to some degree, but also because it is so beautiful and peaceful. It's the third country I've been to with UNICEF -- I had previously been to Uganda and Indonesia. But I had never been to a place that beautiful and peaceful.

As for a place I'd like to go...I'd like to go to Zanzibar. I imagine it's beautiful, and it makes me sound smart to say I know where it is.

Q: Apparently there's a version of "American Idol" in Afghanistan -- did you see it?

CA: It's called "Afghan Star," and I didn't get to see it.

Q: Have you been able to follow the current season of "American Idol"?

CA: I haven't seen any of it.

Q: Have you heard anything about Sanjaya and his performances?

CA: We were actually in India when everything was happening with him, and people over there were talking about it.

Q: The big entertainment news today is that Rosie O'Donnell is leaving "The View" in June. Any reaction?

CA: Good for her. Do what you want to do. But she will be missed on that show. But I'm sure she'll do something just as big and fantastical -- if that's a word -- as she did when she was on "The View."

Q: What's next for you?

CA: I have a tour coming up this summer. It starts July 4 in Dallas, and tickets are on sale now.

You can watch a video of Clay on Today by clicking on "Launch Video" at the same site as the interview is on. You can also download it at Clack Unlimited.

Clay looked great (as always) and is so well versed and passionate about education in Afghanistan. Every time I see him talk about these things, it makes me prouder to be a Clay supporter, as I know it does all of you! He is getting to be known as much for his philanthropy as his singing! And that is what Clay has wanted all along!

clayis' Update, 4/27: YouTube clip now available:

Clay's New UNICEF Interview

CLAYPERFECT has found a new UNICEF interview/PSA with Clay. The clip is short, but Clay has some interesting things to say about his trip to Afghanistan. Download it at MegaUpload.

Clay's Afghanistan Appeal Raises Over $180,000

Clay fans, we have something to get real excitable about! In UNICEF's April 23 Field Notes, Chris Phillips has given us the great news that a total of $181,783.03 has been raised, almost double, from Clay's $100,000/10 Day appeal! This is absolutely amazing, and all those who contributed should feel good about the huge difference this will make in the education of Afghanistan's children.

The UNICEF Field Notes includes the following information:

Yesterday was the final day of Clay Aiken's ten day appeal for Afghanistan.

Congratulations! We raised $181,783.03 for the kids of Afghanistan during this ten day campaign. That's $80,000+ more than the original goal we set for this campaign!

This total includes all online gifts made online in the U.S. and Canada. We're expecting some checks to come in through the mail and will post a final total next week.

We appreciate your generous support of this appeal. Hundreds of you posted this appeal on your web sites, blogs and boards and forwarded the campaign to your friends.

My colleagues and I will continue to keep you posted on UNICEF's work in Afghanistan and around the world. We'll show you how your gifts are being put to work in the field.

Note that since all checks have not been received, this dollar figure should rise, bringing us closer to $200,000!

Kudos to the fans for giving so generously at Clay's appeal, to Clay for the loving work he does as a UNICEF Ambassador of Education for the children of the world, and to UNICEF for all they have done all these years and continue to do to help people all over the world. I couldn't be prouder to be part of such an amazing effort!

"Our" Idol Gives Back - An Essay By CorieLuvzClay

Most of you have read the beautiful essays that CorieLuvzClay writes, many of which we have included here at Clay's Daily Double. Corie has been wanting to write one about Clay's trip with UNICEF for a couple of weeks now, but there have been things going on in her life that have kept her from writing one.

I received Corie's essay last night, and now that I have read what she wrote about our Ambassador Clay Aiken, I believe it was meant to be for the essay to come at this time instead of earlier. It comes just in time for us to include it in our edition of CDD that goes out on the last day that donations are being accepted for Clay's $100,000/10 Day appeal (and, of course, we popped the top off that thermometer!). It comes just when UNICEF and Clay are putting the final touches on his "Field Report". It comes just after we saw the fantastic Entertainment Tonight report on Clay's trip with UNICEF. It comes when excitement is high in Claynation from seeing all of the beautiful pictures of Clay with the children in Afghanistan and watching the videos, including that heart-melting picture and video of Clay and the baby..."All Done Darlin'". Will I ever get over that one?

So, as you read this extraordinary essay, see if you don't agree that it came at the perfect time, and also that she sums up the thoughts and feelings of all of Claynation for their UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken!

“OUR” IDOL GIVES BACK!

I sit here at my computer, looking, watching, listening and falling in love…over and over and over again. I listen to and watch recent videos…I look at precious few pictures many, many times. I suck in my breath, my heart clenches and yet again, for the umpteenth time I think…just what is it? Just exactly what has he got that no one else has? What in the name of all that is holy is the hold, the rapture…the absolute most spellbinding grasp this man has on us? We don’t seem to know, those of us who have some modicum of an inkling find it hard to put into words, he most assuredly has no clue and the rest of the world…”out there”, out of this realm, out of “his nation”, is so far removed that they are utterly lost…lost and confused at the unabashed, unconditional love, commitment and support we have for this man, “our” American Idol, my Pied Piper, my Prince of Thieves as I have named him in other writings.

This man who dips long, slender fingers into pools of philanthropic waters and causes a ripple effect so strong that without his knowing to what extent…”his nation” watches…it waits and it watches, holding a collective breath, wondering the same thoughts…is he safe? What will he do today? How will he touch someone on the other side of the world? What will he leave behind? Will his footprints be emblazoned on the hearts of those he comforts, will his soft voice be branded to the memories of those he speaks to, will his smile be stamped in their minds eye…will sparkling jade green eyes be forever hallmarked in the hearts, minds and souls of the people whose lives he touched for a brief five days? Will Clay Aiken, America’s sweetheart, superstar pop-singer, UNICEF Ambassador for the well being and education of the world’s children make the impression upon the people of Afghanistan that is needed there…letting them know that someone cares? That someone will fight for them, that someone will try to “save” them in some small way…if in no other way, at least to make known, their hearts desire for the fulfillment of education? Helping them to fill the void, the hunger and quenching their thirst for knowledge, one of the most important tools they must have in order to survive the ever developing world around them? I think he does, in his own distinctive, exceptional way; Clay will let them know that he will do all in his power to help them to realize their own dreams of a brighter future.

By now, most of us have seen the video of Clay giving a polio vaccine to an infant held snuggly and lovingly in his warm, safe arms. The look on his face is one of profound attention to the mission at hand. Once completed, his face lights up with an affectionate smile and he softly says…”all done darlin’, all done, all finished” and the look on Clay’s face is real and true and it just melts your heart and those words just suck you in. Although unclear, he then seems to whisper…”aw sweetheart, sweet” as he gently caresses the tiny infant’s soft cheek with feathery thumb strokes. At some other juncture in the video you see Clay gently rubbing the arm of another baby and saying “poor darlin’ “ as that baby receives an injection from the doctor and it’s these soft murmurings, sweet gestures and gentle looks that make Clay Aiken stand out and away from other celebrities. He loses himself in the moment, never paying attention to the camera around him and just is himself…never ashamed or embarrassed to show his softer side, to reveal his tender and loving nature…never too macho to show the rest of us how to love and to share what’s inside of us with those in need. Clay wears his heart on his sleeve, he is more than simply a human being…and he has not one care what others may think of his gentle nature. This is Clay Aiken…he is like this whether on a mission with UNICEF or on a stage singing songs of love and angst or songs in prayer to the Heavenly Father…he gives of his heart and his soul, in their entirety until the light pours out of him and shines on all of us. His look, at those moments become virtually ethereal and therein lies one of the mysteries…how does this man, who is human, seemingly change his appearance to that of an Angelic force when engaged in something from his heart and his soul? I don’t think we will ever have the answer to that question; it’s not for us to know…it’s only for us to witness, love and learn from. Clay Aiken is “A Spiritual Being on a Human Journey”!

I know that Clay Aiken is not the only celebrity Ambassador for UNICEF, I know that there are actors, singers and sports figures who also travel with UNICEF in an effort to bring help and relief to other developing nations…but no matter their popularity, it just seems that Clay brings awareness like no one else can…and he can do this because of us, his fans. Because of the love and respect we have for Clay, we make sure that his appeals and cries for help are not only met but they are met with a fervor and a pitch that shakes the organization on the receiving end to it’s very core. He asked for one hundred thousand dollars in donations to bring educational supplies to the children of Afghanistan and his quest is being met with almost double that in less time then the allotted ten days to reach this goal. As of this writing we are at $161,798.82 in donations with still one day to go and without having the ending total for Friday, April 20, 2007.

"I want my tombstone to say that I made a difference somewhere...I don't want this to be for naught, I don't want all this to be a waste, I kind of would like to think that I am here for a reason" By Clay Aiken November 2004

We love you Clay, we’re here for you, helping you to realize your dreams for children in need everywhere, in all walks of life and under all circumstances, whether through UNICEF or The Bubel/Aiken Foundation. We’re here…loving you unconditionally, supporting you unwaveringly and respecting you beyond measure…Always & Forever!

CorieLuvzClay
April 21, 2007

UNICEF Field Notes - Preview of Clay's Field Report Cover

In the April 21 UNICEF Field Notes, Chris Phillips has sent us a copy of Clay's "Field Report" cover. Chris tells us:

We started working on Clay Aiken's field report yesterday afternoon. I thought you might like to see the cover we're working on.

We're sorting through the pictures and they're great. I'm looking forward to hearing more about the trip to Afghanistan my UNICEF colleagues when they get back to the office next week.

We will e-mail a PDF copy of the field report to all donors who give $50 or more to Clay's Afghanistan appeal. We'll mail a printed copy of the Field Report, autographed by Clay Aiken, to all donors who are able to give $1,000 or more.

This should be an extremely exciting and informative report of the work that Clay has done with the Afghanistan children.

Last Day For UNICEF Fundraiser

Today is the last day to donate to the UNICEF Clay Aiken $100,000 in 10 Days appeal. That goal was reached earlier this week and the amount raised as of Friday was around $161,000.

• Donate now
• CDD's complete coverage of Clay's Afghan visit & UNICEF fundraiser

Watch Clay's thank you message below:

New UNICEF Photos From Afghanistan

mee2u has posted some new UNICEF photos we'd like to share with you. You can head over to TheNewsMarket.com where it looks like you can watch a few clips courtesy of UNICEF.

Yahoo Video Has Clay's Past and Current UNICEF Videos To View

If you've been watching videos of Clay's recent trip to Afghanistan and just can't get enough, perhaps you would enjoy going to Yahoo Video, where you can see 9 videos of Clay and his various UNICEF activities. A listing of the videos are:

UNICEF: Clay Aiken's Question
Clay Aiken in the field with UNICEF
Clay Aiken talks about the tsunami
Clay Aiken Thanks Unicef Donors
UNICEF and Clay
UNICEF Helps Children Survive
Clay Aiken Talks About his Visit to Tsunami Sites
Lighting Up Fifth
050114_Kids Help Out_Clay

So, if you can pull yourself away from the great videos of Clay in Afghanistan, especially that one with the baby, revisit Clay's past ventures with UNICEF by going to Yahoo Video.

Screencaps, Video From Tonight's ET Appearance

Gerwhisp has posted caps and a video of Clay's interview with Entertainment Tonight about UNICEF, the Virginia Tech tragedy as well as his thoughts on Sanjaya Malakar. What a great segment!

- Download clip @ SendSpace

UNICEF: Claynadians Pitch In; Challenge Extended To $200,000

Canadian UNICEF ambassador and host of CTV's Canadian Idol Ben Mulroney commented on the support Clay's Claynadian fans have given to the $100,000 in 10 days campaign.

"We were excited to see Clay’s Canadian fans join this campaign with such enthusiasm and generosity," said Ben Mulroney. "Thank you so much to Clay and all his fans for your support!"

---

Here are the 2 updates we received from UNICEF Fieldnotes in the past 24 hours:

Clay Aiken Thanks Afghanistan Donors + Tune In Tonight

Today is Day 8 of the campaign for Afghanistan and we've already far surpassed the goal. Clay Aiken asked us to share his thanks with you.

Also, Clay is scheduled to appear tonight on Entertainment Tonight. Tune in to hear Clay's thoughts on his trip with UNICEF.

Day 8 Update : Clay Aiken's Appeal for Afghanistan

Our new total is $161,798.82 as of 9 a.m. this morning. This total, in US Dollars, now reflects the donations made in the U.S. and in Canada.

Speaking of Canada, I had a conference call with my colleagues from UNICEF Canada this morning. They heard from UNICEF Canada Ambassador Ben Mulroney, host of Canadian Idol, and asked me to pass along this message:

"We were excited to see Clay’s Canadian fans join this campaign with such enthusiasm and generosity," said Ben Mulroney. "Thank you so much to Clay and all his fans for your support!"

---

UNICEF is also extending the challenge to see if we can raise $200,000. Don't forget, you have until this weekend to make your donation. As of this afternoon, the combined total for American and Canadian donations stands at about $160,000. So what can $200,000 do? UNICEF posted this list of what they could do with $200,000 today:

• Large tents are used for temporary classrooms and community programs. Each tent costs $700.

• Hand pumps bring clean water to families in Afghanistan. My colleagues in the field in Afghanistan tell us that only 23% of people living in Afghanistan have access to clean water. The Mark II hand pumps UNICEF is providing in Afghanistan, like the one in the picture above, cost about $206.29 each.

Look at it this way: If this campaign raises $200,000, UNICEF could provide 333 tents or 970 water pumps. What a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of thousands of kids in Afghanistan. If you haven't made a donation to Clay's campaign yet, I hope you'll consider helping UNICEF provide clean water and education to children.

Clay Video and Interview at ETOnline

Today, Clay was at the ET set to talk about his UNICEF trip and his rooting for Sanjaya Malakar on AI6. But, in addition to Clay being on TV, this information can also be found at ETOnline.

Get ready for lots of surprises when you see Clay both on TV and online. First, the beard is gone. He must have shaved it off right when he got back home!! For some fans, this will be a time of rejoicing. For others, like myself, I am already missing the beard. But as I've said before, I love the Clay under the beard more, so all is well!

Coming as no surprise are the great things Clay has to say about his trip to Afghanistan. He reiterated again the hospitality of the people there, but also said that he was nervous about his safety there. He said that he and Diane Sawyer wanted to get together to eat, but they could not leave their respective hotels, even though they were only about a mile apart. Watch the video to hear more things Clay has to say about his trip there.

One more thing...what may shock many people is that Clay was actually rooting for Sanjaya Malakar and even hoped he would win AI6!! Now, I find myself cheering and whooping it up to hear him say that, because I was rooting for Sanjaya myself. As Clay said, you gotta love a guy who has the courage to get up before millions of people with a mohawk!! Seems our guy has been watching AI more than he might admit to!

Be sure to check out the interview, video, and picture of Clay at ETOnline. In fact, I think I'm on my way to watch it again!