The Barrett Family Foundation
The Barrett STEAM Academy is made possible through the generous support of the Barrett Family Foundation, established by Bob Barrett, Francine Rouleau-Barrett, and their daughters Kim and Rebecca. The family has a long-standing commitment to education, sustainability, and community development. Their philanthropic work began with their leadership in Polytainers, a Toronto-based, internationally recognized company in sustainable plastic packaging.
In 2015, the Barrett Family Foundation made its first transformational gift to Humber Polytechnic, leading to the creation of the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation (BCTI). Their support continues to expand access to quality education and innovative programming, such as the STEAM Academy, which reflects their vision of helping young people reach their full potential through technology, engineering, and creativity.
Barrett Family Foundation Makes Transformational
Gift to Humber College
On January 24, 2023, The Barrett Family Foundation made a transformational gift of $30 million to Humber, marking the largest single donation ever made to an Ontario college. Combined with their donations to Humber’s Unlimited Campaign, the Barrett Family Foundation has given a total of $42 million, making their donation the largest in Canadian college history.
The donation supports science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs and technology at the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation and provides access to more than 100 STEM-related scholarships annually.
