Irving B. Harris
Obama Presidential Center Honoree
Space Name: Irving B. Harris Courtyard | Forum | Lower Level
Irving B. Harris was a successful businessman who was passionate about helping children thrive. He was instrumental in programs such as Project Head Start and Start Early to ensure young children have access to education and healthcare, and he established graduate schools in social work, public policy, and early childhood development. As mentors to President Obama, Irving Harris and his wife, Joan, used their resources to improve social services, support families, and break the cycle of poverty—transforming countless lives.
Legacy on Campus
Campus Courtyards
The Obama Presidential Center campus features six courtyards named after those who have inspired President and Mrs. Obama including child education advocate Irving B. Harris.
Education for Students at the Center
Explore the Center’s self-guided school visits, open to K-12 educators and students. These tours celebrate the legacy of Harris, inviting young people to engage with real-world case studies and explore how to bring change home.
Meet More Honorees
Through the honoree naming initiative at the Obama Presidential Center, we are partnering with our donors to celebrate a part of the history in which the Obama story is so deeply rooted by associating a named space with a hero, moment, or person "on whose shoulders we stand"—an honoree who made the Obamas’ story possible.
Meet More Honorees