6 Year Old Boy Raises Money for TBAF

A 6 year old boy spent his "last days of summer" raising money for the Bubel Aiken Foundation's through sales of the BAF book Our Friend Mikayla, NJ.com reported.

It is always so nice hearing stories such as this ... What an incredible young man!

Our Friend Mikayla, released by the BAF last year, is being used as part of the foundation's inclusion curriculum. The story was written and illustrated by Mikayla's third grade class to raise awareness about the fact she is just like everyone else, in spite of her disability.

Frm NJ.com -

A 6-year-old boy used the last days of his summer vacation over the Labor Day weekend to raise money and buy copies of the book "Our Friend Mikayla."

Dante Requena, a first-grader at Shafer Elementary, hosted a yard sale and lemonade stand for two days and collected enough cash to buy 36 copies of the book written by Mikayla Resh's third-grade classmates at Lower Nazareth Elementary.

The book chronicles the friendship between the authors and Mikayla and shows her classmates have much in common with her even though she is disabled. The students drew the book's pictures and wrote the story.

The book was published in 2006 by "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken's Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

Kristy Barnes, president of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, said the foundation has sold more than 2,500 copies of the book so far and ordered another 5,000. The foundation also uses the book as part of a K-12 curriculum for inclusion it created.

Mikayla's Parents Thank Clayboard

The parents of Mikayla Resh have thanked the Clayboard for their efforts in getting their Bubel Aiken Foundation book "Our Friend Mikayla" into libraries across the country. The book was published by the BAF last year to show kids that inclusion and acceptance "is cool".

Here's what Mikayla's mom, Kimberly sent by e-mail to the CB's claynov30:

It is most appropriate that Mikayla’s story is part of a Valentine’s project, because she is such a sweetheart! Her friends’ love and affection for her is evident through their words and illustrations in “Our Friend Mikayla.” They have embraced our sweet little Valentine and her inclusion in their school and community. Our greatest hope is that their book teaches others to do the same.

Our heartfelt thanks for helping to get this story into the hands of children everywhere! “Our Friend Mikayla” can only make a difference if it is shared with others. Please continue to promote Mikayla’s book and it’s donation to elementary schools and libraries until all children with disabilities are welcomed into their schools and communities. “Our Friend Mikayla” demonstrates how Inclusion is a most positive experience for all, and makes the world a better place."

Thanks again, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love, Michael, Kimberly, Mikayla and Lauren

The book can now be purchased from BubelAiken.org.