Founder's Day

Each year Monticello and the University of Virginia recognize and honor revolutionary leaders with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals.

Join us this year as we mark the 280th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth with a celebration and ceremony on Monticello's iconic West Lawn at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 13. This free (registration required!) event will feature a keynote address from this year's Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medalist in Citizen Leadership, Jason Rezaian.

Register to attend on our Calendar of Events page.

Arriving Early?

Meet the organizations making a difference in our community at the Partner Tent, opening at 8:30 a.m. on the West Lawn.
Join us at the Monticello Graveyard at 9 a.m. for a special Wreath Ceremony in honor of Thomas Jefferson's 280th birthday.

Can't make it in person?

This event will be livestreamed on our website, Facebook, and on YouTube on April 13, 2023.

Learn more about all of this year’s medalists here.

About the Speaker

Jason Rezaian is an award-winning writer and journalist for The Washington Post. A first generation American of Iranian origin, Rezaian became The Post’s Tehran bureau chief in 2012. In 2014, he was arrested on unsubstantiated charges of espionage. Freed after 544 days of imprisonment, Rezaian has since used his platform to fight for the freedom and the liberty of others, championing the stories of other journalists imprisoned for doing their jobs and fellow Americans held hostage abroad solely because of their citizenship. His reporting continues to elevate the stories both of Iranians and those around the globe.