Barrett Family Foundation recognized for outstanding contributions to Humber and beyond

By Bridget Yard on
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The Barrett CTI building, which is dark grey with yellow accents, shot from below in front of a blue sky

The Barrett Family Foundation (BFF) has been recognized for its philanthropy by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Toronto Chapter. The foundation was honoured in the Outstanding Philanthropic Group award category.

Bob Barrett and Francine Rouleau-Barrett, co-founders of the foundation and long-standing champions of Humber, have helped to transform the college and have created new opportunities for students.

Humber College nominated the BFF to recognize its leadership and support of the college and to many charities in the GTA, Canada and around the world.

Francine and Bob Barrett“The Barrett Family Foundation has always been focused on providing support to community organizations and educational institutions that prepare people for meaningful careers,” said Bob Barrett, president and CEO of Polytainers Inc. and co-founder of the Barrett Family Foundation.

“It’s an honour to be recognized for our contributions and to be nominated by Humber.” 

The BFF’s initial $10 million contribution to Humber College supported the creation of the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation (Barrett CTI), a place where students have access to the tools, facilities and industry networks to help them succeed in an ever-changing workforce. The foundation has also provided direct support to students with scholarships, helped to fuel innovation by fostering skills training and competitions and invested in outreach to spark interest in pursuing post-secondary education.

“The Barrett Family Foundation has been a transformational donor to Humber,” said Chris Whitaker, president and CEO, Humber College.

“We are grateful for what the BFF has done to help make the college an even better place for students to pursue their education and become career-ready graduates. Congratulations on this award – a well-deserved tribute to a long history of community support and helping people prepare for a better future.” 

The Barrett CTI promotes sciences, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) outreach which is important not only to Humber and its students, but also to the effort to close Canada’s skills gap. The foundation’s ongoing commitment to the college supports a shared vision – one that includes work-ready graduates with the skills and experience to take on meaningful careers.