THOUGHTFUL GIVING FOR
STRONGER COMMUNITIES
AND BETTER LIVES
BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 9, 2026) – The East Tennessee Foundation (ETF/Foundation) proudly marked a major milestone with its 40th Annual Stakeholder Summit held in Bristol on Thursday, April 2 at Bristol Motor Speedway. This event brought together community leaders, donors, nonprofit partners, and supporters to honor four decades of meaningful impact across East Tennessee.
This milestone summit served as a powerful morning of reflection on the Foundation’s legacy of philanthropic leadership, monumental impacts, and its continued commitment to make lives better and communities stronger throughout East Tennessee for generations to come.
During the summit, the Foundation shared key milestones from the past 40 years including:
“As the East Tennessee Foundation turns 40, we are as encouraged today as we have been for the past four decades,” shared Dr. Keith Barber, President & CEO of ETF. “We will continue to call upon our neighbors to help one another, learn from our fellow East Tennesseans, and build upon our success to be strategic in making impacts in our region. This milestone is a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when communities come together with a shared vision.”
A special highlight of the summit was a grant given to Speedway Children’s Charities from ETF to further their mission to ensure every child in its service region has the same opportunities no matter the obstacle they face.
ETF also recognized a special honoree whose leadership, generosity, and dedication have made a lasting difference in our community. The Appalachian Funders Network was presented the Foundation’s Community Catalyst Award for their incredible efforts and significant contributions to the Neighbor to Neighbor disaster recovery strategy from Hurricane Helene.
“The grant presented and the honoree represent the very best of our region,” said Lisa Ford, Vice President of Strategic Engagement & Communications of ETF. “These nonprofits’ deep commitment to serving this region and shared passion for ETF’s mission reflects the spirit of what we celebrate at our Stakeholder Summit each year. We are grateful for their partnerships and dedication in building a brighter future for East Tennessee.”
Since its founding, ETF has played a vital role in supporting charitable organizations, expanding educational opportunities through scholarships, and addressing the region’s most pressing needs through strategic philanthropy. The Foundation remains focused on building upon its strong legacy by fostering generosity, deepening partnerships, and creating lasting change to make lives better and communities stronger across the region.
In addition to the Bristol Stakeholder Summit, the Foundation also hosted Stakeholder Summits in Knoxville and Athens, ensuring communities across the region had the opportunity to join the impactful celebration.
To learn more about the East Tennessee Foundation and its work, visit etf.org.
