Photo and text by Mary Damiano

Married for more than 50 years, Myrna and Sheldon Palley could be considered the face of philanthropy and cultural volunteerism in Miami. They have shaped the arts landscape of Miami by helping to found the New World School of the Arts, the National Foundation of the Arts and the Miami International Film Festival. Their latest cultural and philanthropic effort is a labor of love: donating their multi-million dollar collection of art glass, regarded as one of the finest collections of its kind in the country, to the Lowe Art Museum, located on the grounds of their alma mater, the University of Miami in Coral Gables. The Palleys have been collecting glass works since the 1970s, and in addition to gifting their collection, they also donated the money to build a new home for their collections and other glass pieces, the sunny, light-filled, Palley Pavilion for Contemporary Glass and Studio Arts. At a recent reception at the new pavilion, the Palleys guided guests through the collection. Touring the pavilion with the Palleys is a real treat—they’re both knowledgeable and nostalgic about their art. They are also two of the most gracious and down to earth people you could ever hope to meet. They are proof positive of the importance of volunteerism, and of the wonderful things that come from devoting ourselves to the things we love. To see more photos from the reception, visit the photo gallery in this issue.