Tom Tom Foundation

43 sessions. 167 speakers. 900+ attendees. $4M+ in prizes and investments. 🙌

The Innovation Summit brought together founders, investors, policymakers, creatives, and industry leaders to explore technology, entrepreneurship, investment, and policy through the lens of COURAGE.

The Summit was co-created with hundreds of stakeholders across Virginia's innovation ecosystem, from regional gatherings to one-on-one coffees with the people who believed in what this could deliver. 🤝 That collaboration is what makes this more than an event.

Thank you to our sponsors: UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and UVA Health.

Check out the full recap ➡️ tomtomfoundation.org/post/recapping-the-2026-innovation-summit

📷 James Carter

Gun violence is often called a "uniquely American" problem. But how much of what we think we know is shaped by data, and how much by fear and political framing?

On July 23, we're sitting down with James Burnett, Managing Director of The Trace, the nation's only newsroom dedicated exclusively to covering gun violence, for Tomorrow Talks | Gun Violence in America: Systems, Solutions, and the Role of Journalism.

Registration required. ➡️ tomtomfoundation.org/post/tomorrow-talk-gun-violence-in-america

The 2nd Annual Civic Futures Summit brought together participants from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors for a full day of honest, hyper-local conversation. 🙌

101 speakers. 16 sessions. 400+ attendees.

From affordable housing and urban planning to education, homelessness, and reentry, leaders from across government, business, philanthropy, health, the arts, and beyond gathered to strengthen trust, build relational capital, and deepen the community cohesion that guides the future of Charlottesville and the region.

This year, the conversation didn't stop at the table. We carried it forward into action.

Thank you to our sponsors United Way of Greater Charlottesville, University of Virginia, and C-Ville Weekly for making the 2026 Civic Futures Summit possible.

Read the full recap 👉 tomtomfoundation.org/post/civic-futures-2026-reflections-on-gathering-impact

📷 Kori Price Photography

We want to highlight the community partners behind Tom Tom's first-ever Community Wellness Day. 🙏

M2H Equity Blue Zone Committee, Blue Green Dragon LLC, Dr. Scarlett Heinbuch, The Conscious CFO, and Alicia Henry came together to produce six sessions on one incredible day.

Topics ranged from Blue Zone living and grief counseling to Chinese medicine, near-death experience, and the intersection of mindfulness and personal finance.

Thank you to everyone who showed up to facilitate and everyone who showed up to participate. 💛

See the full festival recap at tomtomfoundation.org/festival-recap-2026

📷 Alisa Foytik

The barriers between an idea and a working product have never been lower. 💡
On June 30, we're sitting down with Marty Weiner, founding engineer at Pinterest and former CTO of Reddit, for a Tomorrow Talk on what it means to build and scale companies in the age of AI.

This one is for the founders, the operators, and anyone paying close attention to where things are headed.

Registration required. GA: $25 | Tomorrow Society Members: $20
🎟️ events.humanitix.com/tomorrow-talks-or-nextgen-startups-building-companies-in-the-age-of-ai

Much love to The Rusty Iris and Bad Hat Fire for bringing the magic to the Downtown Mall Block Party once again. 🔥

A transformed school bus turned into a glowing, immersive, multi-level art piece, The Rusty Iris is an instant landmark the moment she rolls up. Guests explore both floors and soak in the energy from the upper deck view.

Bad Hat Fire delivers incredible fire spinning shows using hula-hoops, staffs, fire breathing, and more that pull a crowd from anywhere on the mall!

This is what the Block Party is all about. Community artists who keep showing up, keep showing out, and make 25,000+ people feel the magic of Charlottesville. ❤️‍🔥

You can learn more about the Rusty Iris + how to support them at therustyiris.com

📷 Alisa Foytik

Tom Tom is on the ballot! 🎉 We've been nominated for Best Party AND Best Festival in the 2026 Best of C-VILLE, and voting is open right now. 🗳️

Head to bestof.c-ville.com to cast your vote for us! One vote per email, through June 30.

$4 million in prizes and investment flowed through Tom Tom Festival events this year. 🙌

From Innovation Showcases and Crowd-Funded Pitch Night to UVA's Galant Challenge and E-Cup, 56 startups took the stage as founders, builders, and bold ideas found their launchpad.

Tom Tom doesn't just celebrate innovation, we create the conditions for it.

Check out our full 2026 Festival Recap at 👉 tomtomfoundation.org/festival-recap-2026

We want to take a moment to highlight an amazing community partner: Eastwood Farm & Winery. 🙌 This year, they opened their stunning venue to three Tom Tom Festival events, each one a different expression of what community can look like.

They organized and hosted How She Built It, an evening panel and four-course wine pairing dinner celebrating women founders in Charlottesville's food and beverage world. 🍷 Eastwood's own Athena Eastwood joined panelists for an honest conversation about courage, risk, and what it really takes to build something, followed by a beautiful dinner with orchard views.

🧘 They also welcomed Wine & Zen to their mountaintop, a midday community stress break featuring yoga, meditation, and a sound bath led by Simply Mindful Moment, Yoga by Brian, and The Love No Ego Foundation.

And they hosted "Brave Hearts, Calm Minds" with Holistic Outreach for Veterans (HOV), a heartfelt gathering honoring veterans, their families, and the broader public, with wellness sessions, nonprofit resources, and entertainment. 💜

Thank you, Eastwood Farm & Winery, for being an amazing community partner. 🙏

Get the full recap of the 14th Annual Tom Tom Festival at tomtomfoundation.org/festival-recap-2026

📷 Alisa Foytik

Charlottesville has always been shaped by people who show up. The Tomorrow Society is Tom Tom Foundation's membership program for individuals and families ready to invest in our community's civic future. 💜

Members get access to exclusive events, a limited edition membership pin, and the chance to connect with fellow change-makers who care about this place as much as you do.

Inspired by the community clubs of the past. Built for the Charlottesville of tomorrow. ☀️

Join at 👉 tomtomfoundation.org/tomorrow-society