Frito-Lay Celebrates Black History Month By 'Calling All Artists' For A Chance To Win A Grand Prize Of $10,000

Frito-Lay North America today launched "Create to Celebrate," a Black History Month art contest encouraging consumers to submit an original piece of art online for a chance to win a grand prize of $10,000, second prize of $5,000, or a third prize of $2,500. The winners will be chosen by consumer voting and a judging panel. In addition, Frito-Lay will donate $1 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) for each consumer vote received for a maximum of a $20,000 donation.

"We are excited to highlight the importance of Black History Month and to provide a platform for artists to showcase their creativity," said Haston Lewis, senior director of marketing, Frito-Lay North America. "Through our partnership with UNCF, we will provide scholarships to help more artists and students reach their full potential by getting the education they need."

"We are thankful to our partner, Frito-Lay, for working with us to ensure young people have the support they need to get to and through college," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., president and CEO, UNCF. "Investing in their dreams now will pay dividends for them, their communities, and all of us as they become our next generation of leaders."

The Frito-Lay "Create to Celebrate" Black History Month art contest begins today and runs through Feb. 15, 2014. Artists, 18-years-old and above, should go to www.celebratecommunityarts.com and upload their original piece of art created in any medium celebrating African American achievement in Black History. Beginning Feb. 16 through March 1, fans, 13 years of age and older, will be invited to select the top 25 semi-finalists. From there, Frito-Lay will choose and announce the prize winners on or around March 27, 2014.

UNCF, the largest and most effective minority education organization, supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. It administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country.

For more information, visit www.celebratecommunityarts.com.