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High School HIV/AIDS Awareness Art Competition Program
The Fourth Annual Don’t Turn Your Back On AIDS, HIV/AIDS High School Awareness Art Competition Awards and Ceremony was held from 2- 4:30PM on December 5, 2009 at the Waterfront Hotel in Jack London Square, Oakland, California. An art exhibition presenting the students’ art will be held at an Art Gallery in Jack London Square on 435 Water Street prior to the ceremony.

Last year over 44 Bay Area High Schools received promotional materials about the program and students from 15 schools submitted 150 entries. Don’t Turn Your Back On AIDS provides a unique opportunity to engage young people in peer-to-peer awareness raising activities to combat HIV/AIDS using their creative and artistic talents.

Don’t Turn Your Back on AIDS Awareness Art Competition provides an interactive environment orientation where high school students learn imperative information regarding HIV risks and prevention in the classroom through a 28-minute DVD. Students creatively interpret their views and artistically express themselves under their art teachers’ instruction. Consequently, their awareness is increased about contracting HIV and their risk behaviors are reduced.

Fact: Many young people do not know the basic facts about HIV risk and prevention.
Fact: Over 30% of all persons living with HIV/AIDS in California are between the ages of 13 and 29.
Fact: A large number of young people participate in unprotected, multiple partnered, unsafe sexual activity, and lack critical information regarding the spread of HIV.

The Flowers Heritage Foundation (FHF) is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing solutions for public health issues affecting the underserved and improving the lives of the most fragile among us. Our current priority is to make a significant difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We allocate 100% of donor dollars to help improve and/or save the lives of the medically indigent through our programs. We educate and increase awareness around HIV/AIDS as a public health dilemma. FHF started the annual art competition in 2006.

Family members, major media reps, and guests are expected to view – and bid through silent auction - the students’ thoughtful, creative, and powerful art works.

Over the past three years, several student artists’ participants received full scholarships to reputable art institutions, for example; the California College of Art, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and Academy of Art in San Francisco using their awarded pieces as admissions materials. Others uncovered latent artistic and humanitarian talents and interests as a result of their involvement and interactions with the program.

Finally, the 2008 event also produced an outstanding coffee table book of the artwork submitted and judged. The book and reproductions of all artwork is available through the FHF website. Proceeds from the book go to support other Foundation programs that benefit underserved communities.

Several students who have participated in the program have as a result become HIV/AIDS peer educators in their schools, public health ambassadors in their communities, and pursued educational interests as public health advocates.