Called “one of the nation’s most important institutions” by The New York Times and “the world’s greatest dance festival” by The New York Post, the American Dance Festival (ADF) is committed to serving the needs of dance, dancers, choreographers, and professionals in dance-related fields. ADF’s wide range of programs include performances, education, awards, community outreach, humanities and media projects, and national and international initiatives. In supporting ADF, The Forest realizes the mission of the organization to preserve, promote, and present modern dance throughout our community and the world.

A non-profit organization founded in 2011, Book Harvest provides an abundance of books and ongoing literacy support to families and their children from birth. Their innovative programs serve as a model for communities committed to ensuring that all children are lifelong readers and learners. As partners with The Forest at Duke, Book Harvest continues to bring important initiatives to the Durham community, including Book Babies, Books on Break, and the Community Book Bank. These campaigns work to provide all children and families with books and literacy resources wherever they are.

Founded in 1992, Caring House provides comfortable, supportive, and affordable housing to Duke Cancer Institute adult outpatients and their caregivers during treatment. Each of the 18 private rooms situated inside this 12,900-square foot home is equipped with a private bath and many creature comforts, like a private bath, phone, television, and DVD player. Fully embracing Caring House’s “home away from home” concept, The Forest at Duke has provided the organization with volunteers, borrowed equipment, financial support, and much more.

One of downtown Durham’s most loved and established arts organizations, the Carolina Theatre of Durham attracts more than 150,000 fans each year. In the heart of downtown Durham since 1926, Carolina Theatre has weathered nine decades of social, political, and economic change and continues to be a source of civic pride. A source of corporate support, The Forest at Duke is proud to help Carolina Theatre continue bringing world-class performing arts to the Triangle, screening films 365 days of the year; providing unique access to the arts for thousands of Triangle-area students and families for free or reduced ticketing costs; and lastly, ensuring that the historic theatre continues to be an essential cultural institution in our beautiful city.

A dynamic orchestral ensemble of more than 40 musicians hailing from all parts of North Carolina, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (COT) is renowned for its artistic excellence, remarkable versatility of musical styles, and adventurous programming. The COT presents six concerts a year, often featuring classical music’s foremost up and coming talents. Today it is considered one of the finest professional ensembles in North Carolina and the Southeast. The Forest’s ongoing support of COT joins the Orchestra’s commitment to building community and education, all through world-class artistic performance.

The Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP), a $16 million brick ballpark, opened in 1995 and was expanded to a 10,000-seat capacity for the 1998 season. Home to the Durham Bulls, a Triple-A minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League, the DBAP is located in downtown Durham and reflects many characteristics of old-time parks and the historic downtown Durham architecture. The Forest at Duke sponsors “Retire the Side” at the park, referring to when a Bulls pitcher “retires the side” by getting all three outs in an inning without allowing a batter to get on base.

Since opening in 2008, the Durham Performing Arts Center (locally known as the “DPAC”) has become the center for live entertainment in North Carolina. Recognized for its contemporary design and one-of-a-kind live entertainment, DPAC attracts over 500,000 guests each year to its 250 events, including spectacular touring Broadway productions, high-profile concert and comedy events, family shows, and the heralded American Dance Festival. For the 2019-2020 season, The Forest at Duke is the title sponsor of the Legends Concert & Comedy Series at DPAC, a series bringing in big names like Carol Burnett, The Temptations and The Four Tops, Chicago, Gladys Knight, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and Jay Leno.

One of Durham’s oldest non-profit organizations, Durham Colored Library is dedicated to the mission of “lifting up stories about African Americans, both current and historical, to help create a more comprehensive picture of the American experience.” Its partnership with The Forest at Duke facilitates a wider distribution of the Merrick Washington Magazine, a publication started in 1952. Merrick Washington shares news articles about and related to African American culture and history with a sight-challenged population that does not readily have access to Braille or large print editions of major publications.

For more than 35 years, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has provided food for those at risk of hunger in its 34-county service area. This non-profit organization, established in 1980, serves a network of more than 800 partner agencies, including soup kitchens, shelter, food pantries, and programs for children and adults. Its partnership with The Forest enables the Food Bank to provide an additional 9,000 meals each year to those facing food insecurity.

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is a year-round program dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of nonfiction cinema, culminating in a four-day event each spring in downtown Durham. The festival brings free screenings and educational programs for teachers and teens to the community and Durham Public Schools, creating communal conversations and fostering good will among all who attend. As partners, The Forest at Duke supports Full Frame’s 400+ person volunteer team, who are essential in making the festival a well-organized and neighborly event each year.

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce is a bold, dynamic organization committed to serving the needs of businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. Through leadership and collaboration, the Chamber engages the Greater Durham business community, elected officials, and regional partners in proactive business initiatives that foster Durham’s innovative business environment and creates opportunities for Durham and its residents to thrive and grow. The partnership between The Forest at Duke and the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce enables the Chamber to proactively advocate for the types of initiatives that foster a healthy and competitive business environment and create opportunities for Durham and its residents at all stages of life to thrive and grow.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties works to inspire and enable all young people, particularly those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The club serves 120 children every day through its after-school program and over 300 during its summer camp and athletic programming. The Hope for the Holidays partnership between MIX 101.5 FM and The Forest at Duke ensures that each Boys and Girls Club youth in the local area receives a personalized gift during a fun, festive holiday party. In addition to bringing joy to the Club and its volunteers, staff, and children, this campaign also lessens the cost burden of Christmas gifts for local families.

The central hub of the local Jewish community, Jewish for Good serves as the umbrella organization for the Levin JCC, Jewish Family Services, the Jewish Community Foundation, Jewish Community Relations Council, the Israel Center, and Community Midrasha. Jewish for Good’s mission is to “serve as a vibrant hub where everyone belongs, nourishing the roots of local Jewish life.” As a supporter of the work done at this organization, The Forest at Duke helps Jewish for Good’s growing line of social and cultural programming thrive.

A vibrant Reform Jewish community in the Durham-Chapel Hill region, Judea Reform Congregation consists of 630 households and builds community by engaging its members in the central aspects of Judaism. Because of its partnership with The Forest at Duke, the Judea Reform Congregation finds additional support for many of its mission-critical activities: Religious School programs, inclusion efforts to make Judea Reform welcoming to all, music and worship, scholarships for youth camps, social action initiatives promoting justice and equality, and more.

The African American Dance Ensemble is a 501(c)3 organization committed to outreach, focusing on the wellbeing and a positive future for youth. The Ensemble continues the legacy of Dr. Chuck Davis in preserving, teaching, and performing traditional African dance, music, and values. The Forest is pleased to sponsor the organization’s 35th KwanzaaFest celebration, which offers a free venue of quality performances, collaboration with businesses and non-profits, and food collection for those facing homelessness.

Committed to the inclusion of people of all abilities, backgrounds, denominations, gender identity, and religious affiliations, Levin Jewish Community Center (JCC) serves the Durham community by providing a broad range of cultural, recreational, social, and educational programs and activities. The Forest at Duke is proud to sponsor the Levin JCC so that the organization can continually expand its reach and help an increasing number of programs, services, individuals, and groups.

The mission of Lincoln Community Health Center is to provide primary and preventive healthcare in a courteous, professional, and personalized manner. The organization is a leader in providing accessible, affordable, high quality healthcare services to the medically underserved. The Forest at Duke partners with Lincoln to reduce health disparities in a low income, under- and uninsured population, and to provide access to group and individualized education and self-management for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure.

A flexible ensemble of professional musicians based in Durham, Mallarmé Chamber Players seek to enrich the lives of the community through outstanding chamber music performance. The ensemble distinguishes itself in the community by its innovative educational programs, commitment to creative collaboration with other organizations, creation of significant new work, and dedication to serve a diverse population. With The Forest’s support and partnership, Mallarmé is able to keep its programs intact and ensure that its inspiring concerts continue.

A vital and honored component of our state’s cultural life, the North Carolina Symphony was founded in 1932. Adults and schoolchildren in more than 90 North Carolina counties enjoy its 300 concerts, education programs, and community engagement events each year. The Symphony is dedicated to being North Carolina’s state orchestra – one that achieves the highest standard of artistic quality and performance standards and embraces its dual legacies of statewide service and music education. In part because of The Forest’s ongoing support and partnership, the Symphony continues to reach more than 250,000 adults and children across the state, offering engagement with diverse audiences of music lovers.

The second largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the Southeast, the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival attracts thousands of patrons to downtown Durham each year. Since its beginning in 1995, the Festival has featured a diverse array of shorts, documentaries, and feature films. Celebrating a worldwide glimpse of today’s gay, lesbian, and transgender life, OUTSOUTH brings the community together and features entertaining and sophisticated films and filmmaking. The Forest at Duke has served as the film festival’s title sponsor since 2018, supporting OUTSOUTH as a celebrated home for LGBTQ+ film and filmmakers.

The premiere professional theatre company of North Carolina, PlayMakers Repertory Company strives to produce entertaining, relevant, and courageous work that tells stories from and for a multiplicity of perspectives and creates transformational impact in the immediate and extended communities. The Forest at Duke partners with PlayMakers to ensure the longevity of the organization’s programming and outreach, which includes serving thousands of youth through award-winning educational programs; hosting open events in libraries, bookstores, and community centers; eliminating barriers by providing affordable tickets and All Access program for patrons with disabilities; and every aspect of producing nationally-acclaimed theatre.

TROSA provides multi-year comprehensive recovery services (housing, health services, counseling, vocational training, meals, transportation, education, and more) for men and women with substance use disorders. The Forest at Duke has proudly sponsored TROSA’s annual “Foodie Fundraiser,” a vitally important event for TROSA whose proceeds allow the organization to continue providing its services to its clients at no cost. As substance use disorders continue to be a public health epidemic, The Forest is pleased to partner in TROSA’s work to help rebuild and save lives.

UNC-TV is North Carolina’s only statewide public media network. Its 12 stations provide all 100 counties in the state with four full-time, unique broadcast program channels: UNC-TV PBS & More; The Explorer Channel; Rootle, UNC-TV’s 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel; and North Carolina Channel, Stories with a Local Accent. The Forest at Duke is proud to support UNC-TV as they realize their mission of connecting North Carolinians with each other, the world, and endless possibility while accompanying people of all ages on their journey of exploration and discovery.