New Executive Director of Friends - Utah

The Friends of the Children – Utah Board of Directors are pleased to announce our new Executive Director, Kelsey Lewis.

For more than 28 years, Kelsey has devoted her career to serving Utah’s most vulnerable children and families. After graduating from the University of Utah with a double major in Sociology and Women’s Studies, Kelsey began her professional endeavors as a foster care caseworker for DCFS. She went on to earn her Master of Social Work from the University of Utah with an emphasis in Child Welfare. In 1999, she joined Utah Foster Care to launch the first statewide program to recruit foster/adoptive families. Since then, she has followed her passion for nonprofit leadership, developing successful teams and innovative programs for youth and families.

Most recently, Kelsey served as executive director for Kids Who Count, an early intervention program for infants and toddlers’ birth to three, with developmental delays and disabilities. In 2022, Kelsey was honored to be named an “Angel Among Us” by Utah Valley Magazine for her vision, leadership and dedication to children and families. Kelsey has led statewide advocacy efforts to increase resources and improve public policies that support healthy development, ensure equitable access, and give children a strong start in life.

Kelsey is honored to be joining Friends of the Children-Utah. “Since launching in Spring of 2020, our Utah team has demonstrated their commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty for youth who face the toughest challenges,” says Kelsey. “As of today, Friends-Utah has made the unconditional commitment to support 59 Utah children for 12+ years, no matter what, and we’re just getting started.”

Kelsey has two sons, a junior at Alta High School and a junior at the University of Utah. She lives in Draper with her husband, and a spoiled cat named Danger Kitty.