The Summer of 2004 marked Clay Aiken’s first Solo Tour, and the creation of The Way We Make a Difference.

When we launched this program, our goal was to help fulfil the Bubel/Aiken Foundation’s ideal of integrating individuals with disabilities into the life environment of those without.

Offering a concert experience to a few people who might never otherwise have the opportunity seemed a terrific and fun way of contributing to the success of this mission.

And so it began - a project that quickly took on a life of its own and allowed us to accomplish far more than we had even dared dream.

Since the tour kicked off in Grand Forks, ND, we have been able to send 1,435 people to see Clay perform. We’ve worked with local chapters of Best Buddies, Special Olympics, YMCA and The Arc of the United States. We've donated tickets to VSA Arts, Make a Wish Foundation, TN School for the Blind, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, the Williams Syndrome Association, and multiple local group homes and centers for independent living.

We’ve spread the news of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to people who knew of Clay as a performer but knew nothing about his work with the foundation. We even found the rare persons who had never heard of Clay, but became fans upon reading of his work and seeing him perform.

And ALL of that was made possible by the incredible fans of one very special man.

A program director, in thanking us for tickets said that she was "so proud of Clay for standing up for those without a voice."

In your own way, each of you who has contributed to this project, whether it be with a ticket donation, a CD, a kind word or a prayer for our success, you too have stood up for those without a voice and we're so very grateful to you for that. What you have done with your support speaks to the very heart of what Clay is trying to accomplish.

But while this experience has been fun, it has also been extremely enlightening. We’ve learned so much about the tremendous need that exists.

So now, as this tour draws to a close, we find ourselves looking to the future. We’re intrigued by the idea of exploring other projects that give fans a tangible way of getting involved in spreading the message of inclusion.

We hope you’ll visit the venue pages, look at the pictures and read some of the thank you notes. And we hope you'll bookmark this site and check back often to join with us, because what we've learned most of all this summer is how powerful we can be when we work together to make a difference.

Thank you,
from the team...
Mary, Pam, Chelle, Debbie,
Elena, Pat, Brenda, Cheryl, Deb and Mary.