Celebrating 35 Years of Healthy Minds & Healthy Bodies at the Poe Center
Emma Hardy
Development & Communications Specialist
Poe Center for Health Education
This year, the Poe Center is celebrating 35 years of calling our campus home and the heart of health education in North Carolina. Since opening our doors in 1991, the Poe Center has helped make our state healthier by empowering children, youth, and adults with the knowledge and confidence to build lifelong habits that support both mental and physical well-being. This milestone brought to life a vision generated in the early 1980s by members of the Wake County Medical Society Auxiliary (now the Alliance). This passionate group of community leaders and allies recognized the critical need for health education and imagined a North Carolina where everyone could lead healthy lifestyles.
Thanks to their bold vision, the Poe Center has become a learning lab for health education where science, art, and technology come together in immersive, accessible experiences. From reimagining our beloved PlayWELL Park to building high-tech, high-touch cooking and gardening theaters and transforming our campus into a canvas of vibrant artwork, we continually reinvent how our spaces teach and inspire. Every corner evolves with purpose, adapting to meet the changing health needs of our community.
Interested in learning more about our history?
Be a part of the celebration! Join us on Thursday, September 17 at the Poe Center, for a special anniversary event. Enjoy delicious food and drinks, explore exclusive experiences, and celebrate the impact that the Poe Center has made on the state of North Carolina.
During the evening guests will enjoy delicious food and drink, live cooking demonstrations, access to our state of the art theaters and exhibits, a silent auction filled with items from local businesses, and one-of-a-kind experiences. Last but certainly not least, the Poe Center is thrilled to unveil a new Cranium Connection program, designed especially for middle and high school students.
You won’t want to miss out on celebrating our milestone!
Thanks to the generous support of Diana and Betsy Mead of the Mead Family Foundation, the Poe Center is introducing a second brain-science program designed specifically for middle and high-school students. “Cranium Connection: Part 2” follows teenagers through various scenarios, demonstrating how everyday choices influences brain development and empowering them to take charge of their mental well-being. Projection-mapping technology illuminates different regions of the brain as various activities engage them.
In addition to the Mead Family Foundation, we want to thank our Annual Sponsors, Event Sponsors, and Silent Auction Donors for helping to bring this event to life and help us celebrate 35 years of healthy minds
and healthy bodies.
This work is not possible without the support of our donors, community partners, and generous sponsors. At the Poe Center, kids don’t just learn about health – they experience it, building the habits and confidence for a lifetime of wellness. Your gift opens doors to more children, more impact, and more lifelong healthy choices.
So please, join us in celebrating 35 years of the Poe Center, as we celebrate the past and look into the future to what’s next.
Featured Program:
The Poe Center is introducing a second brain-science program designed specifically for middle and high-school students. “Cranium Connection: Part 2” follows teenagers through various scenarios, demonstrating how everyday choices influence brain development and empowering them to take charge of their mental well-being. Projection-mapping technology illuminates different regions of the brain as various activities engage them.
Upcoming Event:
Join the Board of Directors, staff, and friends of the Poe Center for Health Education as we celebrate 35 years of visionary health education in North Carolina.
Since opening our doors in 1991, the Poe Center has helped make our state healthier by empowering children, youth, and adults with the knowledge and confidence to build lifelong habits that support both mental
and physical well-being.
Join us to celebrate 35 years of healthy minds and healthy bodies at the Poe Center!