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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2018
Contact: Bill Behrendt
Executive Director
Ohio Citizens for the Arts
614-221-4064
Ohio Citizens for the Arts has selected Sara Jane DeHoff as the recipient of the 2018 William R. Joseph Ohio Arts Advocacy Medal. The annual award celebrates the life and legacy of the founder of Ohio Citizens for the Arts, William R. Joseph. It will be presented to Ms. DeHoff at the 2018 Arts Day & Governor's Awards for the Arts in Ohio luncheon on May 16th, at the Columbus Athenaeum.
Sara Jane DeHoff is a leader in the arts in Northwest Ohio, throughout the state, and nationally. Ms. DeHoff brings diverse experience with arts organizations to her work as an arts advocate, having served and continuing to serve on the boards of the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Symphony, the Arts Commission, the Valentine Theater, the Toledo Area Cultural Leaders' group, and the Toledo School for the Arts. Statewide, she has served on both of the boards of the Ohio Arts Council and Ohio Citizens for the Arts. Nationally, she has served on the board of the Alliance of Artist Communities, Lake Placid Center for the Arts, and Lake Placid Institute for the Arts.
In all of these roles, Ms. DeHoff is deeply committed to the role arts play in creating equality and sustaining social and economic advancement. Over twenty years ago, it was her work as a trustee of the Arts Commission of Toledo (today the Arts Commission) that led to the creation of the Young Artists and Work Program (YAAW). Each summer, for six weeks, fifty to sixty at-risk urban youth engage, and are paid, to create art projects to serve the community. Through YAAW, young people learn about creativity, work ethic, time management, and collaboration - and that art can be a viable career.
Sara Jane DeHoff also was the founding director of the nationally recognized Toledo School for the Arts (TSA). Her vision, advocacy efforts, and financial support of TSA has played a seminal role in the school's success. TSA has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education and been named an America's Best High School by U.S. News & World Report on multiple occasions, and has been recognized as a Ohio Governor's Art Award winner. The school has developed a statewide and national reputation for offering an outstanding academic and artistic education, thanks in part to her pioneering advocacy efforts and vision to operate the school with multiple streams of government funding.
Ms. DeHoff's arts advocacy efforts have, and will continue to have, a transformative impact on our community, state, and nation. A lawyer by training, DeHoff has worked as a social worker, law clerk, lawyer and real estate representative for McDonald's Corporation and as Chair of the Board at Calphalon Corporation. Her decades-long record of outstanding commitment to advancing the arts makes her a powerful force and a true embodiment of an arts advocate. It is by no accident that she is connected to so many people and organizations that have received regional, state, and national awards for their impact of the arts, social equality, and access.
"The William R. Joseph Award is the highest recognition given in the State of Ohio in the area of advocacy in the arts," said William Hilyard, President of the Board of Directors of Ohio Citizens for the Arts. "Ms. DeHoff's commitment to ensuring that art and arts education is accessible to everyone makes her worthy of this honor and we are pleased to be able to thank Ms. DeHoff for everything she does for the advancement of the arts in our great state."
A selection of quotes from Ohio government and arts leaders who provided support for Ms. DeHoff's nomination for this prestigious award include:
"From grass roots to grass tops, Sara Jane's commitment to arts advocacy and philanthropy is rooted in purpose, passion, and transformative investment. Her vision, energy, and resource have beneficially impacted our community and state in so many ways and continue to exponentially manifest." Marc Folk, Executive Director, The Arts Commission
"Sara Jane is a truly remarkable and transformative person in the arts. She has been a role model, a change agent, a strong proponent of arts and crafts, a distinguished leader, educator, and art patron. She embodies the definition of Arts Advocate as an individual who over time has sustained and enhanced the arts in her community, in the city of Toledo, and in the state of Ohio." Brian Kennedy, Director and CEO, Toledo Museum of Art
"Sara Jane has been a true partner in the growth and evolution of the Toledo School for the Arts. Her commitment to ensuring that all of our students receive a transformative arts education has allowed the school to become what it is today. Her efforts and contributions single handedly allowed the school to survive during our first year of existence." Douglas Mead, Director, Toledo School for the Arts
"Through the generosity and dedicated commitment of Sara Jane DeHoff, young women in the arts have and continue to flourish. Through Sara Jane's generosity and foresight, generations of female artists educated in Ohio will continue to benefit and add to the quality of life." Debra Davis, Director, School of Visual and Performing Arts
Founded in 1976, Ohio Citizens for the Arts is a nonprofit grass roots advocacy organization working to advance arts and culture in Ohio. Through the efforts of thousands of individuals and arts organizations, Ohio Citizens for the Arts advocates for increased public funding for the arts throughout the state.
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