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ClayManiacs.com  |  Archive  |  Media & Appearance Archive  |  10/27/03 CLAY READS TO THE KIDS FOR WACHOVIA VOL PROGRAM
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Author Topic: 10/27/03 CLAY READS TO THE KIDS FOR WACHOVIA VOL PROGRAM  (Read 2451 times)

Marilyn

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10/27/03 CLAY READS TO THE KIDS FOR WACHOVIA VOL PROGRAM
« on: April 29, 2010, 11:18:40 PM »
Pamela
Assistant Webmaster
CLAY READS TO THE KIDS FOR WACHOVIA VOL PROGRAM
« on: October 27, 2003, 01:10:16 PM »   

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This was sent to a poster on another board by a Wachovia employee ... it's an interoffice correspondence about Clay's day reading to the kids at PS 76 in Harlem.  See the pictures in the Photo Album Forum!
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Posted 10/24/2003
A Wachovia Volunteer for a Day: Aiken Visits Harlem Classroom for Reading First

Clay Aiken reads "The Wise Woman And Her Secret" at PS 76 in Harlem. The "American Idol" star, RCA recording artist and Wachovia customer sported a "WachoviaVolunteers!" button.

By Wayne Thompson
Corporate Communications
704-374-4573
NEW YORK — For Clay Aiken, the day began with a surprise.

After he performed two songs off his newly released album, The Measure of a Man (RCA) — "Good Morning America's" Diane Sawyer broke the news. The "American Idol" star's album had gone double platinum just one week after its release.

Aiken didn't celebrate with a trendy lunch in Manhattan. Instead, he headed to PS 76 in Harlem for a date with 17 second graders as part of Wachovia's Reading First early childhood literacy program.

The class of Teach For America corps member Melissa Torres was more than ready to take their own measure of the Billboard chart-topping singer.

"Welcome Mr. Aiken!" read the hand-painted banner they tacked to the blackboard. A quartet had rehearsed and had at-the-ready their song, "Girl Power." Strategically placed next to Aiken's rocking chair too was a large notepad on an easel headlined, "Questions for Clay Aiken." Among the students' hand-written questions: "What do you do on the weekend?" and "Do you like to dance?"
Torres introduced the singer to his audience for the next hour.

"Class, this is Clay Aiken, we're very honored to have him here," she told the beaming Aiken. "Welcome, Clay Aiken," the class replied in unison. "As you know, he's a singer and from the show 'American Idol,'" Torres added. "He's here representing Wachovia Bank and a bank, boys and girls, is an institution that lends people money so they can do things. Clay is part of Wachovia's program called Reading First and is going to read to us today."

Aiken's educational training at UNC-Charlotte was evident as he read Eve Merriam's book "The Wise Woman And Her Secret." To drive home the book's message — that wisdom comes from an open heart and mind and a sense of curiosity — he paused often to ask questions that involved the students in the story and even let them name the title character. Before reading, the lanky Aiken sat on the floor and introduced himself to each student seated on the room's carpeted reading spot.

Torres' students hung on every word and instantly shot up their hands to answer Aiken's questions about what he'd just read. "Who knows what wisdom is? Raise your hand," Aiken asked, spotting a boy with his hand up. "You know what wisdom is? Give it a shot."

"Smart advice," the boy replied.

"Smart advice, that was good," Aiken said, giving him a high five. "That was good. That's right."

Closing the book, Aiken used the example of ice cream to reinforce the book's message. "If you don't know how to make ice cream, what do you do?" he asked. "You ask someone who knows how."

Aiken used the ice-cream discussion to return to the main topic of "The Wise Woman And Her Secret."

"So what did we learn from this story? Anybody want to raise their hand and tell me? Ask a lot of questions. If you want to know something and you don't know, you've got to ask a lot of questions. The secret of wisdom is to ask questions. What's another way besides asking questions that you can learn something? By reading, that's right. How many of you are going to go home tonight and read this book."

Every hand shot up and many students bounded from the carpet to their feet.

"Me," they all shouted before Aiken left to pay an impromptu visit to the other classrooms down the hall from Torres' door.

Principal Charles DeBerry said that Aiken's visit was a special day for PS 76 Asa Philip Randolph. The school currently enrolls 400 children from pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade.

"I think it's an excellent opportunity for children to see adults read for a purpose and modeling strategies that they use in their lives," DeBerry said. "We are in the process of trying to schedule more people to come in and read to our children and are so appreciative of what Wachovia did here today."

Shannon McFayden, head of Community Affairs, said that Aiken's visit put a human face on the program's heart and purpose. "Reading First is a program that provides benefits in two directions," she said. "It helps children develop a love of reading and it gives our employees the opportunity to experience just how fulfilling volunteering can be. Clay Aiken's genuine love for children and desire to make a meaningful, lasting impact was apparent when he read to the class. That giving spirit is the hallmark of all our Reading First volunteers."

Reading First has donated more than 400,000 books to classroom libraries since 1999. As for Teach For America, Torres is one of three TFA corps members at PS 76. The school is one of 120 the organization serves in the Bronx and Manhattan.

Iris Chen, executive director of Teach For America in New York, said that Aiken's visit also was part of the organization's effort to further expand the program's reach by introducing Americans from all walks of life to TFA classrooms and teachers.

"For Clay to come in and actually do this is obviously wonderful," Chen said. "He's an unbelievable icon for all that America represents, the whole American dream — someone who failed initially but kept at it, kept working and realized his dream. It's really wonderful that kids had a chance to learn from him and also to hear him read to them today.

"I'm sure it's a day they will remember for a long, long time."

They probably won't forget the answer to their dance question, either.

Replied Aiken with a grin, "I'm not too good at dancing."

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ALWAYS AND FOREVER-UNCONDITIONALLY!!!

Marilyn

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Re: 10/27/03 CLAY READS TO THE KIDS FOR WACHOVIA VOL PROGRAM
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2010, 11:21:25 PM »
HookedOnCA
Guest
  CLAY READS TO THE KIDS FOR WACHOVIA VOL PROGRAM
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2003, 08:49:23 PM »   

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Thanks Pamela! 

What a wonderful, real life story/tribute to Clay & his continuing efforts to help our nations children!

My bother-in-law works as a Guidence Counselor in the Harlem school system and these children So Need positive role models in their lives!

That Clay took the time from his (obviously) busy schedule to do this reading, just makes me ALL THE MORE appreciative of this amazing young man.

Clay's "Revolution" is not just musical.... it's about Giving Back To Others & Making A Real Difference in children's lives.

He does BOTH with grace & love.

Thanks again for this important reminder....
 
 
ALWAYS AND FOREVER-UNCONDITIONALLY!!!

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