2012 RECIPIENT—PATTY BARRIER


The Junior League of Seattle selected Patty Barrier as the 2012 Dorothy Stimson Bullitt award winner in honor of her many contributions as a devoted volunteer in our community. Patty has been an inspiration to others not only in Seattle but also in Atlanta, GA, and in her hometown of Charlotte, NC, where she began her Junior League service in 1972.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Patty started working in sales at the First National Bank of Atlanta, a good fit for someone with such natural interpersonal skills.

Patty’s contagious enthusiasm for community service makes volunteering both fun and successful, and her approach inspires others to join her. She is passionate about the arts, and she has held leadership positions to support a wide variety of artistic mediums, including glass, dance, and theater. She currently serves on the Pilchuck Glass School Board of Directors, and she formerly served on the Seniors Making Art Board of Trustees, the Seattle Repertory Theater Board of Trustees, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet Board of Trustees. She also worked on Capital Campaigns for the Seattle Art Museum, the Seattle Symphony, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Patty has been a Trustee of the Seattle Children’s Home, the Seattle Foundation, the Overlake Hospital Foundation, and Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS). Additionally, she has served on committees for the United Way of King County, the Seattle Foundation, and Hopelink. Her YWCA activities include several terms on the Isabelle Pierce Coleman Nominating Committee and a two-year commitment on the YWCA Board Nominating Committee. She served on the YWCA Capital Campaign that raised $40 million dollars to fund projects such as the construction of Opportunity Place in the heart of Seattle.

Patty Barrier and her husband, Jimmy, are known for their love of animals. In 2005, Patty and Jimmy helped transport, from New Orleans to Seattle, cats and dogs left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Once the animals were in Seattle, local shelters found their original owners or found them new homes. Patty is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Northwest Organization for Animal Help (NOAH), which rescues animals from imminent euthanasia at area shelters. She also currently serves on the Capital Campaign Steering Committee for the Seattle Humane Society, and she maintains a long-term association with the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In years past, Patty helped Pasado’s Safe Haven with fundraising and political outreach to benefit domestic and farm animals.

Patty’s passion for serving her community started early, inspired by her parents. Her mother, at age 93, still volunteers in the community. Until his death a few years ago, Patty’s father was determined to remain a valuable member of society. Patty credits the Junior League for honing the leadership skills she has acquired over the years and for reinforcing the affinity for volunteering her parents instilled in her. She advises anyone who wants to be a volunteer to take advantage of all that their community has to offer because there are so many opportunities to network, to meet the most interesting people, and to have a good time. Patty believes that some of the best personal connections come from working with others toward a common goal, and she encourages volunteers to help in any way they can.

In her spare time, Patty likes to hike with friends, play golf, spend time with her husband, and play with her cats, Boss and Leo Barrier.

VOLUNTEER RESUME:

2008–present—Seattle Humane Society 

  • Corporate Advisory Committee

  • Capital Campaign Steering Committee

2006–present—Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine

  • Dean’s Advisory Committee

  • Capital Campaign Steering Committee

2003–present—Pilchuck Glass School

  • Board of Directors

  • Auction Co-Chair 2004 and 2009

1998–present—YMCA

  • AK Guy Award Nomination Committee

1994–present—Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS)

  • Nominating Committee

  • Development Committee

  • Luncheon Committee

  • Auction Chairman 1996

1999–2012—Seniors Making Art

  • Board of Trustees

  • Executive Committee

  • Vice President

2006–2010—Hopelink

  • Part of the Solution Circle Chairman

  • Reaching Out Benefit Luncheon Chairman

1996–2005—Seattle Repertory Theater

  • Board of Trustees

  • Trustee Committee

  • Development Committee

  • Special Events Committee

  • Endowment Campaign Cabinet

  • Capital Campaign Cabinet for the Leo K. Theatre

  • Chairman Rep Gala

2004—American Heart Association

  • Heart Walk Committee—Largest ever Walk in the USA

1993–2003—Seattle Foundation

  • Board of Trustees

  • Nominating Committee

  • Development Committee

  • Gift Planning Committee

  • Chairman of the 50th

  • Chairman Anne Farrell Retirement Events

1990–2002—Pacific Northwest Ballet

  • Board of Trustees

  • Executive Committee

  • Chairman Trustee Committee

  • Chairman Marketing Committee

  • Chair 1st Anniversary Celebration Nutcracker Ball—raised over $100,000 and started a 10-year tradition

  • Capital Campaign Cabinet Phelps Center

1995–2002—United Way of King County

  • Event Chairman for the Alexis de Tocqueville Society

  • Chairman Cherry Street YWCA Project

  • Advocate

1998–2001—Ronald McDonald House

  • Advisory Board

  • Various Charity Events

1998—PONCHO

  • Chairman Garage Sale—netted over $30K for Poncho Arts Fund

1992–1998—Overlake Hospital Foundation

  • Board of Trustees

1988–1992—Seattle Children’s Home

  • Board of Trustees

  • Jeans ‘n Beans Auction Chairman

  • Other Leadership Positions

1985–1990—Seattle Symphony League

1987–1989—Junior League of Seattle

  • Kaleidoscope Committee—Chairman PR and Advertising

1985—Transferred into the Junior League of Seattle

1977–1982—Junior League of Charlotte

  • Chairman of “Charlobration” Follies—18-month commitment that raised a record $255K for Junior League Projects

  • Board of Trustees

  • Chairman Leagueprint

  • Placement Committee

  • Capital Campaign Steering Committee

1977–1982—Charlotte Community Chest

  • Campaign Door-to-Door Worker

1980—Christ Episcopal Church

  • Cookbook Committee—Raised funds for outreach programs

1976—Charlotte Country Day School

  • Chairman Big Saturday Auction

1972–1974—Junior League of Atlanta

  • Nearly New Thrift Shop

  • Tutor School Children

  • Historical Home Docent

  • Various other Provisional Projects

1972—Joined the Junior League of Charlotte

1967–1969—Delta Delta Delta Sorority 

  • University of North Carolina

  • Chapter Chairman Community Outreach