About TOM: Vanderbilt

History

Since 2014, TOM has grown from one community in Israel to dozens of locations around the world. “Tikkun Olam” means “repair the world” in Hebrew, an idea that encourages everyone to contribute towards improving themselves, their community and the world. TOM’s vision is a world in which technology and innovation allow everyone access to affordable solutions for their needs, and their moonshot objective is to help 250,000,000 people. Learn more about TOM Global here: TOM Global.

TOM: Vanderbilt was founded in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee as one of the first university communities in the United States. TOM: Vanderbilt operates out of the Wond’ry, an interdisciplinary center for innovation that provides the tools and resources for students and faculty to bring their ideas to life.

Stats

As of May 2025, we have…

• hosted 7 Makeathons
• worked on 85+ projects
• helped 70+ Need Knowers

Awards

• 2025 TOM Global Innovation Challenge - Honorable Mention + PrintLab License
• 2025 TOM Global Innovation Challenge - Honorable Mention
• 2024 TOM Global Innovation Challenge - Best Documentation
• 2024 Vanderbilt Awards for Leadership Excellence - Community Engagement
• 2023 TOM Global Innovation Challenge - Grand Prize Winner
• 2022 Abraham Accords Open Innovation Challenge - Scott Carlton Community Award

TOM in the Media

• Second Annual Toy Adaptation Event Expands to Bring More Play to More Kids, March 2025
• Empowering Independence: TOM Makeathon Teams Design Life-Changing Adaptive Solutions, November 2024
• Tikkun Olam Makers Hosts Seventh Annual Makeathon, October 2024
• Alyssa Rosenheck Instagram, October 2024
• TOM 2023 Makeathon, November 2023
• Building for Inclusivity: TOM Makeathon Unveils Inspiring Innovations, November 2023
• Students Lead Three-Day Race to ‘Make a Purpose’ for Kids with Special Needs, January 2019
• Vanderbilt Makeathon Helps Hawaiian Youngster Create Custom Guitar Pick Holder, January 2019
• 48 Hours of Innovation Will Produce a Variety of New Tools for Those with Special Needs, January 2019
• Weekend Inventors Will Build Tech for People with Disabilities, January 2019
• Vanderbilt ‘Makeathon’ Creates New Inventions for People with Special Needs, January 2018
• Makers Race the Clock to Repair the World through This Weekend’s TOM Makeathon, January 2018
• Breaking Ground 101 - Tikkun Olam Makers: Vanderbilt, January 2018
• Vanderbilt’s First Ever TOM Makeathon, December 2017

Our Partners

• The Wond’ry: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/the-wondry/
• Vanderbilt Hillel: https://www.vuhillel.com/
• Digital Fabrication Lab: https://www.digitalfabricationlab.com/index.html

Donate

Interested in helping support TOM: Vandebilt’s mission? Donate here!

Link to Donate