12-year-old Girl from Olathe, Kansas Wins American Kidney Fund National Art Contest for Pediatric Kidney Patients

ROCKVILLE, Md. (Oct. 12, 2023) – Hannah Ehrlich from Olathe, KS has won the American Kidney Fund's (AKF) 28th annual national Calendar Kids Art Contest. The 12-year-old kidney patient's artwork will appear on the cover of AKF's 2024 calendar, and she will be honored at AKF's national gala, The Hope Affair, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

Hannah was one of 13 pediatric kidney patient finalists competing to have their artwork featured on the calendar's cover. Members of the public were able to give their input and voted on their favorite artwork on AKF's website. Hannah's piece, "Kidney Disease Awareness," features a kidney filled with different patterns and colors, surrounded by hashtags related to kidney disease and green kidney disease awareness ribbons.

"Hannah's drawing is not only beautiful, incorporating intricate patterns in the design, but it also shares an important message about spreading awareness of her disease," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. "We congratulate her on being selected this year's cover artist and are grateful for all the unique, creative submissions from this year's contestants. We also thank all of those who came online to view the artwork and vote for the cover winner."

Hannah is living with stage 3 chronic kidney disease and said she applied to the Calendar Kids Art Contest because she wanted to share her colorful design with other kids and families in the kidney community. Her role model is her dad, who is a pediatric nurse at Children's Mercy Hospital, and when she grows up, she wants to be a nephrologist. "My dad attends all my appointments at the kidney center and always encourages me to make healthy choices… [he] is always there for me to support me."

AKF's 2024 calendar featuring Hannah's winning artwork on the cover will be published in October and available for purchase on AKF's website. Hannah will be recognized during The Hope Affair, taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. To purchase a ticket for The Hope Affair, click here.  

Dozens of children and teens with kidney disease from across the United States submitted their artwork for this annual contest. Each of the finalists will receive a canvas-wrapped print of their artwork, along with a gift card.

Other young kidney patients whose artwork will appear in AKF's 2024 calendar include:

• Anissa Matkin, 17, Scottsdale, Arizona ("Before")
• Anna Lanpher, 5, Visalia, California ("I Love My Kidney Community")
• Breanna Underwood, 14, Baldwin Park, California ("My Collage")
• Caleb Robbins, 9, Erlanger, Kentucky ("Spring Time")
• Daisy Hernandez, 9, Houston, Texas ("Kidneys to Live")
• Daniel Salgado Valencia, 11, Goodyear, Arizona ("Disco Kidneys")
• Harper Morris, 11, Jackson, Mississippi ("A New Day")
• Lalita Peterson, 16, Manning, Iowa ("The Dream")
• Lily Cleary, 14, White Oak, Pennsylvania ("You Got This")
• Mary Anita Medina Lamas, 17, Marysville, Washington ("Butterfly")
• Max Vazquez, 15, Houston, Texas ("Healthy kidney and sick kidney")
• Serenity Boyd, 10, Indianapolis, Indiana ("The Kidney Solar System")

AKF's Calendar Kids Art Contest, part of AKF's programming for children with kidney disease, 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.