Born in Providence, Barry Fain is a graduate of Moses Brown, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia School of Business. After a few years of Madison Avenue advertising during the Mad Men years, he moved back to RI to join the family business, Fain’s Carpets, and co-founded the Carpet Giant, a successful chain of carpet warehouses throughout Southern New England.
But soon he discovered what turned out to be a lifelong passion for him: the importance of local journalism and community. He and his two partners started a successful group of four free local monthly magazines that continue to thrive almost fifty years later throughout the state.
This love of community soon expanded to his serving on the Boards of several of our major non- profits including Moses Brown School, International House of RI, Providence Rotary, Providence Preservation Society, United Way, and of course, WaterFire.
He is especially proud to support WaterFire. “I am in awe of what this incredible cadre of volunteers is able to produce month after month, year after year, that still remains free for our community. We are blessed to have them.There isn’t any non-profit in the country that serves as a better example of what volunteerism, energy and creativity can do to galvanize a community.
