ABOUT US
OUR MISSION: Restoring art to the community and the classroom
"It is our joy to inspire and enable AZ Students' Passion for the arts through the gift of arts education and recycled Instruments."
In a time when the quality of education is judged by the strength of student test scores, Restore Arts serves to bring inspiration, passion, and imagination back into classrooms. The increased importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) topics within students’ education has overshadowed the equally important components of passion and imagination. We believe that students find passion in their education through the arts, whether they are music, visual arts, creative writing, or dramatic performance. Students in Arizona need and deserve the experience that art in the classroom creates, but fine arts are the most frequently cut and underserved classes when budgets run thin. Art and creative development can both advance academic achievement and improve life experiences in ways that test scores cannot. Restore Arts strives to use the experience of our Founders to create projects and programs that will use the arts to connect communities with classrooms and improve the life experiences of all students and community members involved.
Mary Lynn Kelly, Co-Founder
In 2013, Mary Lynn helped found Restore Arts in response to Arizona's ongoing need for a driving force behind arts integration and education. A graduate of the University of Georgia with additional studies at both Harvard and Oxford, Mary Lynn has leveraged her background in the arts and community involvement to help Arizona nonprofits and small businesses for nearly two decades. Through Restore Arts, Mary Lynn carries forward the spirit of her past successful initiatives, including heading the community coalition that raised $1.5M for the Challenger Space Center in Peoria, Arizona. Restore Arts allows her to leverage her experience as editor at Arizona Parenting magazine, and her influence as a longtime local on-air television contributor. She honed her skills in designing educational programs during a professional engagement with Game Truck Licensing, LLC. Mary Lynn expresses her passion for the arts on a personal level through her work as a painter and sculptor.
Herb Dougall III, Co-Founder (retired)
Focusing on critical development and improvement projects, Herb has 30 years of experience spearheading technical operations, and overseeing and supporting executive teams and business opportunities. As Vice President of Cox Communications, his dedication earned him national recognition for the successful management of Arizona strategy through strategic problem solving and collaboration. After retiring in 2008, Herb turned his energies to the nonprofit sector. Following his love of music and music education, he joined Ear Candy Charity as their Operations Director and developed an online instrument drive system to connect musical instrument donors with teachers and music programs in need. Since then he has continued to cultivate a positive community by staying active within both local and national non-profit sectors, most recently working with the Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers based in Exton, PA as a National Board member and Regional Director, and the Challenger Space Center located in Peoria, AZ, as President of the Board. Family demands have since taken priority over Herb's daily involvement with Restore Arts, though he remains a valued contributor and advisor.
Restore Arts Team
Jennifer Benavidez- Strategic Planning Creative Marketing
Raymond Pallanes- Buisness and Community Development
With gratitude to those serving as Advisors on our journey:
Wm. Timothy Sprague
Carolyn Sechler, Accounting
Katie Paetz M. Ed
Brad Harper
Mike O'Donnell
Rebecca Flanagan-Lechuga
Herb Dougall III
FUSION Foundation
Ian Johnston
Caroline King
