Daniel Lewis has made a $10 million commitment to Arts Access Miami, which will be distributed over the next five years. The donation will greatly support Young Musicians Unite in its mission to provide music and arts education to all students. Arts Access Miami is dedicated to forming partnerships in music and arts education, uniting and mobilizing arts and music organizations across various communities. This initiative, led by Young Musicians Unite and The Miami Foundation in collaboration with the Miami-Dade County Public School System and prominent local music education nonprofits, aims to establish a thriving arts education environment for every child in Miami-Dade.
“At the center of Arts Access Miami is the idea of creating alliances; alliances of organizations, schools, and city officials, all of which come together for the sole purpose of creating a better future for every child in Miami-Dade,” says Lewis. “Since 2018, Art Access Miami has collaborated with effective nonprofit leaders, Miami-Dade County Public School System’s Principals, its Superintendent and senior staff, sharing space, instruments, staff development, and the needed data. We are looking for organizations and philanthropy with aligned interests to share information, collaborate and enable more youth to achieve their potential through all Arts working together rather than alone.”
Lewis has demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropy for nearly two decades, with a focus on investing in social and musical arts. He played a key role in launching the Cleveland Orchestra’s multi-week residency in Miami in his capacity as the founding chairman of the Miami Music Association. Furthermore, he has served as the board chair of the Festival of North American Orchestras and has held positions on the executive committee of The Cleveland Orchestra and the board of the League of American Orchestras. More recently, he established and leads M:X (Miami Experimental) and The Lewis Prize for Music, showcasing his ongoing dedication to fostering social change through musical arts. In addition to these responsibilities, Lewis serves as chairman of The Management Center and is a member of the board of Third Way.
“Dan Lewis’ investment is a game changer for arts and music education organizations across Miami,” says Sammy Gonzalez Zeira, CEO of Young Musicians Unite. “His generosity guarantees that every child in Miami Gardens, South Dade and Homestead will now gain access to a free arts and music education with over 50,000 students impacted by 2028. I anticipate that Dan’s vision and commitment will inspire other philanthropic leaders to make similar commitments and investments into Arts Access and will change how communities solve problems through collaboration and a united vision.”
