News
Barnes Family Foundation Champions Civil Discourse on North Carolina’s College Campuses
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) partners with the Barnes Family Foundation to foster dialogue across differences in the University of North Carolina System.
ACTA’s College Debates and Discourse (CD&D) Alliance is proud to celebrate the statewide expansion of the Barnes Family Foundation Campus Debates and Discourse Program for North Carolina, now fully established across all 16 universities in the University of North Carolina (UNC) System.
““By bringing the Campus Debate and Discourse Program to all universities in the UNC System,” said Dr. Lee Barnes, president of the Barnes Family Foundation and alumnus of the UNC System, “we are fulfilling our commitment to be Hyper-Local and Hyper-Public. This initiative isn’t just changing campus culture; it is providing thousands of young North Carolinians with the practical, real-world communication skills needed to strengthen our communities, state, and nation.”
Launched in 2023, the program has scaled rapidly across the state thanks to nearly $500,000 in generous support from the Barnes Family Foundation. Led by CD&D Alliance Program Manager Kayla Johnston, the initiative fosters intellectual humility and open inquiry among North Carolina college students by hosting guided debates, dialogues, and workshops. These immersive events provide students with a forum to respectfully discuss today’s most polarizing issues, including DEI, artificial intelligence, and immigration. The program uses the CD&D Alliance’s “community of practice” model to recruit, train, and support local student and faculty fellows, who facilitate these conversations and lead the program on campus and in the classroom.
These fellowships develop transferable skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and peer mediation. Lauren Fletcher, a former student fellow at UNC–Greensboro, shared her experience: “I’m getting hands-on experience moderating difficult situations, most of which circulate around complex issues. Creating a space where students and communities can learn from each other and expand their ideas is something I want to carry into my work wherever I go.”
Since its launch, the program has hosted over 327 events, engaged more than 7,000 students, and equipped over 60 student and faculty leaders to organize and lead debates and dialogues on their campuses. The Barnes Family Foundation’s investment has established North Carolina as a national model for institutionalizing civil discourse.
“Higher education fulfills its highest democratic purpose when it serves as the marketplace of ideas,” said Michael Poliakoff, ACTA president. “Thanks to the visionary partnership of the Barnes Family Foundation, we have scaled our CD&D infrastructure across the entire state, proving that North Carolina students are hungry for spaces where they can listen deeply and disagree with mutual respect.”
About the College Debates and Discourse Alliance
The CD&D Alliance, an ACTA initiative, runs an expansive program that teaches students and faculty to honor ideological diversity, foster civil discourse on college campuses, and develop as leaders to carry the movement forward. Founded in 2018, the Alliance has hosted over 700 debates, dialogues, and training workshops at 147 colleges and universities, engaging more than 28,000 students nationwide.
Barnes Family Foundation Gift Names New Duke Gardens Welcome Center
Duke University has received $7 million from the Barnes Family Foundation to fund the Garden Gateway project.
Duke University has received $7 million from the Durham-based Barnes Family Foundation to fund the Garden Gateway project at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, aimed at transforming the visitor experience with a redesigned front entrance and expanded spaces for events and programming.
The gift will name the Barnes Welcome Center, which will feature a café, a dedicated visitor lobby, indoor and outdoor classroom spaces, upgraded restroom amenities, gallery space and an outdoor gathering plaza.
“We are so grateful to the Barnes family for their leadership in the Garden Gateway project,” said President Vincent E. Price. “Their generosity will help shape a welcoming and engaging setting that enriches each visitor’s experience and expands opportunities to discover the beauty of the Duke Gardens.”
“The Barnes family was instrumental in updating our facilities to provide an optimal experience for everyone,” said William M. LeFevre, executive director of Duke Gardens. “We are delighted that the new welcome center will bear the family’s name as we realize the completion of this project, which will provide a richer experience for both the Duke and Durham communities.”
The Barnes Welcome Center honors Barnes family patriarch and foundation founder Marvin Barnes ’59. While a student at Duke, Barnes played trombone in the marching band, ran on Al Buehler’s second cross country team, was a cheerleader, and joined Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Barnes, a Durham businessman, also chaired the Duke-Durham Campaign, raising funds to support the university’s work in the neighborhoods and schools close to campus.
“It speaks volumes of our beloved Duke University, that this fine institution of higher learning has a publicly welcoming outdoor space, creating a sense of place” said Lee Barnes M.B.A.’95, president of the Barnes Family Foundation. “The foundation supports keeping this space public, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. This gift is a part of the vision that Duke and the Barnes Family share. We are humbled that the part we played made it possible for the wonderful entryway and building at Duke Gardens to be completed. The Barnes Family Foundation is Hyper Local, Hyper Public, as our federally registered trademark proclaims, and now, with this gift, we are solidified is Durham Centric.”
Barnes Family Foundation donation supports the maintenance of the historic nonprofit Carolina Theatre
The Carolina Theatre of Durham is honored to announce that the Barnes Family Foundation has made a generous gift of $3 million — the single largest gift in the theater’s 100-year history.
The donation will ensure the historic Carolina Theatre’s ongoing maintenance, with a portion dedicated to supporting the theater’s Centennial Celebration. The Barnes Family Foundation’s contribution, as well as the unveiling of the newly named Barnes Box Office and Barnes Stage, was announced to the public on October 21, during the theater’s signature seat naming event.
Randy McKay, President and CEO of the Carolina Theatre, expressed appreciation for the gift, stating, “We are extremely grateful for the support of Barnes Family Foundation. We look forward to ensuring the longevity of this important Durham landmark through our partnership.”
The partnership between the Barnes Family Foundation and the Carolina Theatre of Durham showcases the Foundation’s dedication to supporting local non-profit organizations.
“The Barnes Family Foundation is Hyper-Local, Hyper-Public and proudly Durham Centric. As is the Carolina Theatre of Durham, of course, which stands tall and strong amidst our mission. It isn’t just a place. The Carolina Theatre creates a sense of place. It is unique among its peers with a creative cross section of independent and retro films, community programming and live performance experiences,” said Dr. Lee Barnes.
Barnes, an established Durham business owner, community member, and longtime Carolina Theatre attendee, made the donation on behalf of the Barnes Family Foundation.
“Growing up in Durham, my fond memories compel my interest in preserving this masterpiece of entertainment and architecture. Taking our now three adult sons as children and adolescents to classic movies or jazz ensembles, learning and a commitment to independent thinking was always the backdrop. But my fondest endearment came during the mid-eighties when my good friend Ian Cohen and I would go downtown with others in a beat up 1972 mustard yellow Ford Pinto to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday nights. Every night we came out, the car wouldn’t start, but it was still worth it. Much has changed in the 40 years since these youthful fun times, but then and now the sense of place remains in our hearts,” Barnes reminisced.
“We are proud to protect, enhance, enliven and enjoy this gem of Durham with the largest philanthropic gift in the Theatre’s history. The history is remarkable and treasured. And hopefully with this gift, the future, like the lights on the stage, is bright,” he added.
By supporting the nonprofit theater’s mission of uniting the greater Durham community through the arts, this donation aims to enrich the lives of Durham residents and visitors across the Triangle.
About the Carolina Theatre of Durham
The Carolina Theatre is committed to the telling of original, innovative stories and works. They provide a platform for artists to entertain through the creation of emotional and educational experiences that reshape hearts and minds. They are dedicated to the greater Durham and Triangle area while serving as a space to bring our diverse community together to learn about, participate in, and celebrate the arts.
Barnes Family Foundation donates $2 million to the Museum of Life and Science
The Barnes Family Foundation’s generous donation will support renovations and maintenance to the new Barnes Welcome Hall and help the Museum continue to deliver high-quality educational experiences for visitors. It will also create a permanent endowment that will support the Museum’s ongoing growth and improvement, summer camp scholarships, and expand its outreach to underserved families in the Triangle
“The Museum is more than a place to learn, it’s also a place to find belonging and collaboration, especially among young people,” said Lee Barnes. “The Museum inspires creativity in toddlers, kindergarteners, and elementary school kids. And hopefully, that can turn into innovation in high school and beyond. As adults, they can expand our collective knowledge and conduct original research that may change the world for the better.”
“Encouraging people to go into STEM fields is so important today,” Barnes said. “And it can start right here at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science.”
Barnes, a longtime Durham community member and business owner who frequently brought his children to the Museum, made the donation on behalf of the Barnes Family Foundation.
“We thank the Barnes Family Foundation for their historic gift,” said Carrie Heinonen, CEO of the Museum of Life and Science. “This gift will fuel our ability to ensure that the Museum remains a vital cultural resource for the Triangle community that educates and inspires families from across the state.”
To celebrate the donation and thank the Barnes Family Foundation, the Museum of Life and Science hosted a special reception on Friday, February 24, to unveil the new “Barnes Welcome Hall” at the Museum.
The Museum has made a deliberate effort to enhance its fundraising efforts in recent years, and this leadership gift reflects the Museum’s focus on philanthropy. We continue to look for new ways to partner with individuals and businesses who share the Museum’s commitment to science, education, and outdoor learning.
“We are deeply grateful for the Barnes Family Foundation’s support,” said Heinonen. “Their gift will make a lasting impact on the Museum and the communities we serve. We hope that it ushers in a new era of philanthropy at the Museum of Life and Science.”
About the Museum of Life and Science
Located less than five miles from downtown Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is one of North Carolina’s top family destinations. Our 84-acre campus includes a two-story science center, one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast, and beautifully landscaped outdoor exhibits. Our interactive experiences include Dinosaur Trail, Ellerbe Creek Railway, Hideaway Woods, Into the Mist, Earth Moves, and Aerospace, which features one of the largest collections of Apollo-era NASA artifacts in the state. The Museum is also an AZA-accredited zoo, home to rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered red wolves, and more than 60 species of live animals. Last year, the Museum celebrated its 75th anniversary and its ongoing commitment to the communities of Durham, the Triangle, and North Carolina. To learn more, visit lifeandscience.org.
Led by Treasurer Folwell, NC ABLE Awareness Gives Rise to Transformative Donation
(Raleigh, N.C.) – State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, is celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by promoting NC ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) and recognizing a transformative donation made to The Arc of North Carolina by The Barnes Family Foundation.
Treasurer Folwell officially launched The POWER of FIVE campaign, which highlights NC ABLE’s growth and what the community at large can do together to reach the eligible population.
Organically and through the building of relationships with The Arc of North Carolina and the broader community, the NC ABLE program has accumulated more than $15.6 million in assets for nearly 1,700 account holders. The average funded account balance is over $10,000. The Arc of North Carolina and other partner organizations have seen firsthand how people with disabilities across the state can save money for the first time in their lives.
“This is what The POWER of FIVE is all about — the community helping to spread awareness of the NC ABLE Program,” said Treasurer Folwell. “We are thankful for our partners. They help us promote NC ABLE across the state, emphasize the importance of being able to save, and pair account holders and others with employment opportunities.”
On a recent visit to UNC-Wilmington, home of the Seahawks, Treasurer Folwell encouraged all employers to consider hiring people with disabilities as part- and full-time employees. He was accompanied by a young man who works on campus in food services and who has found both personal and financial independence by utilizing Supported Employment services through The Arc of North Carolina. Through his own dedication to work, and by utilizing minimal supports to be successful, this young man began saving money for the first time in his life.
“One of the best outcomes for a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) is a real job in his or her community, earning a paycheck, and connecting with non-disabled co-workers and supervisors in a natural and supportive environment,” said Melinda Plue of The Arc of North Carolina. “To then be able to save that earned income for the future is a game-changer for people with IDD, as up until just a few years ago it was impossible to do while utilizing needed services.”
Coverage of the UNC-Wilmington event was well received. Notably, the treasurer had picked up replacement reading glasses from a dollar store on his way, a stunning pair of turquoise ‘Seahawk-colored’ glasses, which made the story more eye-catching for locals, including Dr. Lee Barnes and his wife, a UNC-Wilmington alumna.
Hearing about the event and being drawn in by Treasurer Folwell’s serendipitous selection of eyewear, The Barnes Family Foundation gave a generous gift to The Arc of North Carolina in honor of the treasurer. “I saw Mr. Folwell speak about the initiative regarding UNC-Wilmington and The Arc of North Carolina. My wife and I were very moved by his reflections on what The Arc of North Carolina had accomplished,” said Lee Barnes, President of The Barnes Family Foundation.
ABOUT The Arc of North Carolina
The Arc of North Carolina is committed to securing for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play. Our organization offers many services for people with IDD including advocacy, housing, supported employment, provider services, community navigation and guardianship.