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VOTE FOR ALEX KEMP! (Click on Vote for Alex Kemp to cast your vote!)
Online voting to select cover art for American Kidney Fund’s annual calendar runs through April 1
ROCKVILLE, MD (March 23, 2016) – A young kidney patient from Magee, MS, has a chance to gain national recognition by having his artwork appear on the cover of the 2017 national calendar produced by the American Kidney Fund (AKF)—but he’ll need your help to make that happen.
Alex Kemp is a 7-year-old living with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease. Alex is of 13 finalists whose art will appear in AKF’s 21st annual Calendar Kids Art Contest, but the cover artist will be selected through online voting on AKF’s website that is going on right now.
Earlier this year, nearly 100 children with kidney disease from across the United States submitted their artwork for this popular annual contest, which has been going on for more than 20 years. Alex’s artwork, along with 12 others, was selected for the 2017 AKF calendar. Now, during National Kidney Month, it’s up to the general public to decide which art will appear on the calendar’s cover. If Alex gets the most votes, he will also receive a free trip to Washington, D.C., to be recognized during the American Kidney Fund’s annual gala, The Hope Affair, this fall.
His artwork, “Chugging for a Cure,” was inspired by his love of trains and his hope that doctors can one day find a cure for kidney disease. He found out about the contest from his nephrologist’s nurse who encouraged him to enter.
“Every year we are so inspired by the creative submissions we receive for our annual Calendar Kids Art Contest,” said LaVarne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. “In the face of serious health challenges, Alex and his fellow artists produce beautiful artwork that will inspire people all year long. It is our honor to feature these drawings in our national calendar.”
Since 1995, AKF has conducted its Calendar Kids Art Contest for young artists who are living with kidney disease. The program provides an opportunity for pediatric kidney patients to express themselves through artwork and to receive national recognition while increasing awareness of kidney disease throughout the United States. The American Kidney Fund’s Calendar Kids Program is made possible thanks to generous support from Amgen and Genentech.
More than 4,000 people voted to select last year’s winner. Please visit the American Kidney Fund’s website to vote for the 2017 Calendar Kids cover art winner.
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About the American Kidney Fund
As the nation’s leading nonprofit working on behalf of the 31 million Americans with kidney disease, the American Kidney Fund is dedicated to ensuring that every kidney patient has access to health care, and that every person at risk for kidney disease is empowered to prevent it. AKF fulfills its mission by providing a complete spectrum of programs and services: prevention outreach, top-rated health educational resources, and direct financial assistance enabling kidney patients to access lifesaving medical care, including dialysis and transplantation.
AKF helps 1 out of every 5 U.S. dialysis patients with treatment-related expenses. More than 93,000 patients in all 50 states received AKF grants last year. AKF invests in clinical research to improve outcomes for kidney patients, and fights tirelessly on Capitol Hill for legislation and policies supporting the issues that are important to kidney patients. To address the enormous public health threat of kidney disease, AKF provides public and professional health education materials and courses, the Kidney Action Day® community outreach program, a Kidney Health Educator program, and a toll-free health information HelpLine (866.300.2900Call: 866.300.2900). AKF’s new grassroots fundraising platform, KIDNEYNATION, unites Americans who are raising funds to support the organization’s mission.
AKF spends 97 cents of every donated dollar on programs and services. AKF holds the highest ratings from the nation’s charity watchdog groups, including Charity Navigator, which includes AKF on its “top 10” list of nonprofits with the longest track records of outstanding stewardship of the donated dollar.
