35 Years of Healthy Minds &
Healthy Bodies

For over 35 years, the Poe Center has empowered over 1.75 million children, youth, and adults across North Carolina to make healthy choices for healthier lives. Our programs inspire lasting choices for mental and physical well-being — from moving more and eating better to managing stress and building positive relationships. Join us in celebrating this important milestone and help shape the next chapter of a healthier North Carolina.

Our Impact
Then & Now
Join the Celebration
Bring These Kids to Poe
Become a Sponsor

35 Years of Impact

1,750,000

Program Participants

97

Counties Across NC

87%

Participants Show Positive Behavior Change

Millions

Reached Online

Then & Now

On November 21, 1991, the Poe Center welcomed its first field trip group, 70 students from Sampson Middle School, officially opening the doors of the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education. 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 – one creative transformation at a time.

Learn More About Our History

Cranium Connection (2002)

The Poe Center’s iconic brain-science exhibit, the Cranium Connection, transforms learning into an interactive journey through the brain.

PlayWELL Park (2004, 2025)

New state-of-the art equipment, interactive art, and enhanced safety features transformed the well-loved park in 2025 ensuring many generations to come will benefit.

GrowWELL Garden (2017)

The GrowWELL Garden transforms outdoor space into a living classroom connecting children to seasonal gardening, earth science, composting, and pollinators.

Building Exterior (2017 - 2023)

Public art transforms the exterior into a vibrant space beautifying the community while sharing powerful health messages.

CookWELL Kitchen (2018)

The CookWELL Kitchen creates a high-tech, hands-on culinary classroom teaching essential cooking skills with fresh, healthy foods.

Substance Use Prevention Theater (2019)

The Substance Use Prevention Theater uses science to help youth understand how the brain works and build positive coping skills to prevent substance use.

Family Life Theater (2024)

The Family Life theater uses technology and interactive elements designed to maximize student interest making topics, such as puberty, more intuitive and comfortable.

Building Entrance & Portico (2025)

The Poe experience begins at the curb immersing school children in healthy messages about nutrition, physical activity, and positive relationships from the moment they arrive.

Join the Celebration

PoeFest Community Health Festival

We had an amazing time with our community at this year’s PoeFest Community Health Festival. Over 200 people, along with dozens of volunteers and partners attended the event.

From traffic safety course activities, snacktivities and cooking demonstrations, visits from our favorite mascots, community health fair resources and FREE dental screenings, this year’s event was an action-packed from start to finish.

Huge thank you to our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and staff who made PoeFest 2026 so successful. Check out highlights from our event below.

35th Anniversary Celebration:
Celebrating Healthy Minds & Healthy Bodies

Over 150 of our friends, supporters, partners and community members gathered to celebrate 35 years of Healthy Minds & Healthy Bodies at the Poe Center. Thanks to our incredible donors and sponsors, we raised over $105,000 in support of our mission. We are thrilled to continue empowering North Carolinians to make healthy choices throughout their lifetime.

View highlights from our event below.

Bring These Kids to
the Poe Center

Will you help us provide health education to more children?

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 our doors to more children, more impact, and more lifelong healthy choices.

  • $50 will send a child to the Poe Center
  • $875 will send a class
  • $5,000 will sponsor an entire series of programs
Give Today

Become a Sponsor

Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Email Development Senior Director Kim Whitley for more information.

Meet our Annual Sponsors.