Cox Unveils Children's Book Honoring Jennie Kearns
Utah First Lady Abby Cox read "Jennie Makes Room" to students at the governor's mansion, with proceeds benefiting the Mansion Foundation.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy
Utah First Lady Abby Cox unveiled a children's book, "Jennie Makes Room," honoring philanthropist Jennie Judge Kearns during a reading in the governor's mansion ballroom on Monday morning. Proceeds from the book will go to the Mansion Foundation.
Why it matters
The book spotlights the role of a historic Utah benefactor whose donations shaped local schools, a cathedral and the governor's residence. It also channels sales toward the upkeep of the mansion that Kearns gave to the state.
The only dated figure in the reporting is Jennie Kearns's death in 1943. No sales totals or fundraising projections for the book's proceeds were provided in the available extraction.
The players
Abby Cox
Utah's First Lady, who wrote and unveiled the children's book honoring Jennie Kearns and read it to students at the governor's mansion.
Jennie Judge Kearns
A late 19th and early 20th century Utah philanthropist whose husband's Silver King mine fortune funded an orphanage, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and the governor's residence.
Mansion Foundation
The nonprofit organization that will receive the proceeds from the sale of "Jennie Makes Room" to support the governor's mansion.
The details
Cox read the book aloud to students, using student helpers, props and questions to make the story interactive. The illustrations by Matt Loveridge include Easter eggs and hidden references to the mansion, including an original painting Jennie bought in France.
Timeline
Late 19th century: the Kearns family grows wealthy from Park City's Silver King mine.
1943: Jennie Kearns dies.
Monday, November 2, 2026: the book is unveiled in the governor's mansion ballroom.
Thanksgiving and Christmas 2026: the governor invites students to serve others during the holiday season.
Philanthropy Legacy
The book honors Jennie Kearns's donation of a mansion to serve as Utah's governor's residence, a gift that the new book now helps sustain through proceeds directed to the Mansion Foundation.
Purchasing "Jennie Makes Room" directs sales revenue to the Mansion Foundation, which supports the upkeep of the governor's mansion. The book also offers Utah families a way to learn about the state's history through a story set in the mansion itself.
The takeaway
Honoring donors through everyday stories can keep their contributions visible to new generations. Families interested in Utah history can read the book and consider how local giving shapes public spaces.
Further reading
Explore more Utah philanthropy coverage to see how donors have shaped the state's institutions.
