The Jesse Helms Center exists to promote traditional American values and the principles upon which our nation was founded and that Senator Jesse Helms advanced throughout his career.  This is accomplished through education, public policy promotion, and historical preservation.

The Jesse Helms Center Foundation's programs are offered at little or no cost to the public. This is made possible by the support of foundations, individuals and corporations who recognize the value of the programs and the non-partisan commitment of the foundation.

2007 Annual Report (PDF)

A Brief History of the Jesse Helms Center

Board of Directors

Helms Center Staff

A Brief History of the Jesse Helms Center

The Jesse Helms Center is as unique as the man it honors. Its foundation goes back more than two decades to the day when Dr. Paul Corts, then president of Wingate College, approached Senator Helms to ask if the Senator would consider designating that school as the repository for his official papers. Senator Helms had previously been approached by a number of other schools, all much better known than Wingate, but Senator Helms had a special affection for Wingate. That school had opened its doors to him when he did not have the money to begin college.  Senator Helms remembered that kindness shown to a young man whose family was struggling during the Depression. So, to the surprise of those who assumed that a powerful Senator would want his papers at a famous institution, Senator Helms decided chose Wingate as an expression of his appreciation for their record of providing opportunity to students with promise.

The decision to designate the papers to Wingate prompted many friends of both the school and the Senator to propose the creation of a special building for the papers that would also honor the Senator. Senator Helms adamantly rejected the idea of what he called “a dusty museum.”  But, at the urging of his wife and best friend, Dot Helms, he agreed to allow the creation of an organization that would put its main focus on programs to educate students and encourage all citizens to value the principles that the Senator cherished and supported throughout his career.

The Jesse Helms Center was established to do just that – to help preserve and promote the values upon which our nation was founded. Today, the Center is known around the world for its public lecture series; its outreach to young people through the Free Enterprise Leadership Challenge; its training programs for young leaders who are embarking on careers in government; its seminars for teachers who are seeking resources for teaching on the Bill of Rights and other core topics that are uniquely American; citizen seminars on a host of government issues and the Laws of Life essay competition for character education in middle and high schools.

Today the Jesse Helms Center is headquartered in a beautiful building located across the street from the entrance to Wingate University. This building includes a wing for the Helms archives; but, in keeping with Senator Helms’ clear directive, this is no dusty museum. It is, instead, the hub from which all programs of the Helms Center extend, honoring Senator Helms by modeling his commitment to service.

Board of Directors

The Hon. William “Bill” Cobey, Jr.

Chairman of the Board

Durham, North Carolina

Mr. H. Clark Goodwin

Vice-Chairman

Monroe, North Carolina

Mr. John R. Dodd

President, The Jesse Helms Center Foundation

Charlotte, North Carolina                                      

Mr. William M. Graham                                         

Secretary           

Salisbury, North Carolina

Mr. Leroy Pittman

Treasurer

Monroe, North Carolina

Mr. Marion Bagwell

Reidsville, North Carolina

Mr. Hoover Adams

Dunn, North Carolina

Mr. Jimmy Broughton    

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Mr. C. C. Dickson, Jr.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Mrs. Nancy Helms Grigg

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Mrs. Dorothy Helms

Raleigh, North Carolina

Mrs. Jane Helms Knox

Raleigh, North Carolina

Dr. Jerry E. McGee

Wingate, North Carolina

Mr. Roger Milliken

Spartanburg, South Carolina

Mr. Dennis Moser

Indian Trail, North Carolina

Mr. Walter Price

Charlotte, North Carolina

Mrs. Mary Summa

Charlotte, North Carolina

Mr. Tom Boney, Jr.

Graham, North Carolina

Mr. Bobby Brown

Raleigh, North Carolina

Mr. Andy Hartsfield

Durham, North Carolina

Mr. Robert Pittenger

Charlotte, North Carolina

Mr. Jack Lail

New London, North Carolina

Mr. Neal Rhoades

Raleigh, North Carolina

Mr. Dennis Yates

Concord, North Carolina

Mr. Conrad Hock, Jr.

Greensboro, North Carolina