Americans for the Arts is saddened by recent news that Beverley Taylor Sorenson, advocate for arts and education, passed away peacefully at age 89, surrounded by loved ones at her family home. Sorenson devoted much of her time and energy to restoring arts education to elementary schools throughout the state of Utah, especially through the work of the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, which she founded with her late husband, James LeVoy Sorenson. Through a series of grants and endowments, Sorenson also supported arts education programs at the top universities in Utah, including a $12 million donation in 2008 to the University of Utah for the construction of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts and Education Complex. This remains the largest individual donation the university has received in support of both its fine arts and arts education programs.

Sorenson'€™s decision to focus her philanthropic energy on arts education dates back to 1995 when she paid a visit to Lincoln Elementary School in Salt Lake City. Lincoln Elementary was considered the most troubled school in the area, but Sorenson saw firsthand how the school'€™s strong visual arts program was building bridges across the cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds of the students. Sorenson decided to dedicate her time and resources to developing Art Works for Kids, a teaching model that integrates art into the core curriculum by placing arts specialists in the school to work side-by-side with classroom teachers to create lesson plans. For her tireless philanthropy and advocacy, Americans for the Arts presented her with the Eli and Edythe Broad Award for Philanthropy in the Arts, presented at the 2011 National Arts Awards. Her presence, passion, and dedication will be deeply and sadly missed.