Utah Valley University (UVU) partnered with Utah Foster Care and Miss Utah All American Kalia Suapaia for the art show fundraiser “Pieces of Me,” showcasing artwork created by individuals of all ages and connections to foster care.
Utah Valley University (UVU) partnered with Utah Foster Care and Miss Utah All American Kalia Suapaia for the art show fundraiser “Pieces of Me,” showcasing artwork created by individuals of all ages and connections to foster care. Some artwork was available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting Utah Foster Care.
Participants included children in foster care, foster parents, primary families, and adoptive parents. The exhibition featured drawings, paintings, photography, mixed media, and framed poetry. Artists were invited to explore the theme “Pieces of Me,” but many artworks explored themes beyond that, including depictions of families, sibling relationships, homes, and healing.
UVU's Foster Success initiative supports current and former foster youth on campus, with Federal TRIO programs and first-year advising counselors serving as the first point of contact – connecting students to personalized guidance, resources, and a community designed to help them thrive throughout their college journey. As the initiative continues to grow and expand, UVU aims to build deeper relationships with organizations like Utah Foster Care to create more opportunities for foster youth across the state.
Suapaia is a sophomore at UVU pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture. In her reign as Miss Utah All American, Suapaia has partnered with Faces of Foster Care to raise funds and awareness for children in the foster system. Both during and after her time with the title, she is committed to helping kids have equal opportunities in life.
Utah Foster Care is a private 501(c) (3) created by the Utah Legislature and Gov. Mike Leavitt in 1999. The organization works to develop innovative strategies to help find, educate, and support Utah foster families. Utah Foster Care fulfills this goal through a contract with Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services.
For additional information about UVU’s Foster Success initiative, please visit https://www.uvu.edu/foster-success/.
