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Gala Weekend

Center for Politics 25th Anniversary

UVA Center for Politics 25th Anniversary and Larry Sabato’s 50th year with the University

Mark your calendar for the weekend of April 5th through April 7th. This jam-packed gala weekend on the grounds of UVA will be one of the highlights of what promises to be an extraordinary year in politics! Events will include:

  • Cocktail Reception 
  • Gala Dinner
  • Groundbreaking Ceremony – Center for Politics building expansion
  • Sabato’s Crystal Ball – 25th Anniversary Edition
  • Expert roundtables discussing AI in politics, the role of media in elections and groundbreaking polling results
  • Weekend full of networking with who’s who in politics, including special guests & political dignitaries

Can’t Attend our Celebration but want to Support our 25th Anniversary Celebration Fund? Click Here

Tickets & Sponsorship Opportunities

  • Inclusion on event program and digital media related to the celebration
  • 2 tickets with reserved seating to Concert
  • 2 tickets with reserved seating to Crystal Ball Event
  • 2 tickets to Gala
  • Prominent inclusion on event program and digital media related to the celebration
  • 10 Tickets with priority seating at Friday concert
  • 5 Tickets with priority reserved seating at Crystal Ball Event
  • 4 Tickets to Sponsor cocktail Party
  • 10 Tickets with priority seating at Gala
  • Private thirty minute Zoom briefing by Larry Sabato for 10 guests during 2024 election cycle
  • Prominent inclusion on event program and digital media related to the celebration
  • 10 Tickets with priority seating at Friday concert
  • 10 Tickets with priority reserved seating at Crystal Ball Event
  • 6 Tickets to Sponsor Cocktail Party
  • 10 Tickets with priority seating at Gala
  • Invitation for two guests to Sunday Thank You Brunch
  • Presenting sponsor of either Concert, Crystal Ball or Gala, including one minute speaking time to speak and introduce event emcee
  • Sponsored event will be referred to in all spoken, print, and digital communications as “[EVENT] Sponsored by [SPONSOR]”
  • Thanked by name by emcee at Gala
  • Private one hour Zoom briefing by Larry Sabato for 25 guests during 2024 election cycle
  • 10 Tickets with highest priority seating at Friday concert
  • 10 Tickets with highest priority reserved seating at Crystal Ball Event
  • 10 Tickets to Sponsor Cocktail Party
  • 10 Tickets with highest priority seating at Gala
  • Invitation for two guests to Sunday Thank You Brunch
  • All spoken, print, and digital communications about the weekend will be referred to as “Center for Politics at UVA 25th Anniversary Celebration Presented by [SPONSOR]”
  • Thanked by name by all event emcees
  • Two minutes of speaking time during cocktail hour of Gala
  • Private one hour in-person briefing by Larry Sabato for 25 guests during 2024 election cycle
  • 10 Tickets with highest priority seating at Friday concert
  • 10 Tickets with highest priority reserved seating at Crystal Ball Event
  • 10 Tickets to Sponsor Cocktail Party
  • 10 Tickets with highest priority seating at Gala
  • Invitation for four guests to Sunday Thank You Brunch

To join our event as a sponsor, please contact Dave Earl at [email protected] or 434-962-2980

Countdown to Gala Weekend

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Events on Friday, April 5th

How Artificial Intelligence May Impact
the 2024 Election

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Garrett Hall Great Room

How Artificial Intelligence May Impact the 2024 Election

Moderator:

  • Tammy Haddad, Founder, Washington AI Network, former News Producer & Owner, Haddad Media

Participants:

  • Adelina Cooke (MPP ’13), Global AI Policy Lead, Google
  • Jen Easterly, Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
  • Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State

Concert with the UVA Chamber Singers
Political Campaign Songs Through the Ages

8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Old Cabell Hall
Special Guests include:

Tara Setmayer (Moderator) Martin Luther King III Brad Raffensperger Jefferson Interpreter, Bill Barker
  • Tara Setmayer (Moderator)
  • Martin Luther King III
  • Brad Raffensperger
  • Jefferson Interpreter, Bill Barker
  • Among others

Limited number of free tickets available. *Clear Bag Policy Applies

Events on Saturday, April 6th

Sabato’s Crystal Ball 25th Anniversary Edition
“The Road Ahead”
presented by Dominion Energy

11:00 am – 2:00 pm
All Saturday events will be held at the Center for Politics.

Activities Include:
  • Open House and Reception 
  • Groundbreaking– Center for Politics building expansion
  • Luncheon
  • Sabato’s Crystal Ball  25th Anniversary Edition “The Road Ahead”

Featuring:  Larry J. Sabato, Paul Begala, Jamelle Bouie, Donna Edwards, Sarah Longwell, Chuck Todd and Alex Theodoridis

*Clear Bag Policy in Effect All Day

Attendees will only be able to carry the following style and size bag:

  • A bag that is clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and does not exceed 12”x6”x12”
  • A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).
  • One small clutch bag, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap can be taken to the event with one of the clear plastic bags.

All other bags will not be permitted. A list of prohibited bags includes, but is not limited to: purses, backpacks, drawstring bags that are not clear, briefcases, coolers, fanny packs, luggage, computer bags, camera bags, binocular cases, and diaper bags.

For more info or to get tickets, please contact Glenn Crossman at [email protected] or 434-243-3540

Room Blocks in Charlottesville

Secure your room reservation now, as we anticipate rooms to sell out.

Hyatt Charlottesville

Hyatt Place Charlottesville
$215/night

UVA Center for Politics Rate

2100 Bond Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22901

Tel: 434-995-5200
Fax: 434-995-5211

Colonnade Club

The Colonnade Club
$279/night

[email protected]

Pavilion VII, West Lawn, 
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Tel: 434-243-9710
Fax: 434-381-4737
www.colonnadeclubuva.com

Quirk Hotel Charlottesville

Quirk Hotel Charlottesville $279/night 

Visit our Guest Portal

499 W Main St,
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Tel: 434-365-3890

Omni Charlottesville

Omni Charlottesville Hotel $289/night

Center for Politics Reservation

212 Ridge McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903

Tel: 434-971-5500

Marriot Residence Inn

Residence Inn by Marriott Charlottesville Downtown
$309/night 

Book your group rate for UVA Center for Politics

315 W Main St,
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Tel: 434-220-0075

For more information about hotel blocks contact Glenn Crossman at [email protected] or 434-243-3540

Thank You To Our Generous Partners For Your Support!

Capital Campaign Sponsors


Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation 

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Goodwin, Jr.

John and Amy Griffin Foundation

Andria and Michael McClellan

Michael S. Miller and Nancy Richards Miller

John Nau

Sabra Purtill and Andrew Vest

Larry J. Sabato

The Saunders Family Foundation

Gala Sponsors: Jeffersonian Sponsors

Dominion Energy

Gala Sponsors: Pavilion Sponsors


The Jefferson Council

Mark L. Friedman

Fortress Investment Group

Richard, Laurie, Harrison and Jason Gordon

Chris and Emily Krebs

Andria and Mike McClellan

McGuireWoods Consulting, Diane and Frank Atkinson, and Kathy and Mark Bowles

Drew and Amy McKnight

Microsoft

Michael and Nancy Miller

Sabra Purtill and Andrew Vest

Larry J. Sabato Foundation

Gala Sponsors: Crystal Sponsors

Kathleen McGinn and Thomas Almy

Margaret and Michael Baudinet

Rick Davis, Partner, Stonecourt Capital

Frederick A. Fletcher

Thomas H. Kennedy, Jr.

Markus Meier

Michael Missal

Sonja H. Perkins

David Peyton

Ken Ruscio, PhD

Jerry and Leonard Sandridge

Larry Schack and Katherine Shaw 

Culver and Linda Schmid

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