It’s easy to get swept up in the chaos of current events - to feel buried beneath headlines, arguments, and the endless noise from both sides. Somewhere in the middle of all that, we lose sight of what really matters… the true heart of America.

Like many of you, I’ve been deeply disturbed by the growing effort to dehumanize Americans who still believe in our values and stand firm in their convictions. Watching people actually celebrate the murder of Charlie Kirk was the last drop of patience I had left.

I’ll admit, I don’t hold much hope for winning over those whose hearts have hardened. But I still believe there’s value in trying. More importantly, I believe we need to remind ourselves that good people still exist in this country - people who rise above politics, pain, and division to bring light back into the world.

From time to time, I’ll be sharing stories of those people with you. This week, I want you to meet my good friend, Tom Varano.

If you’re a parent who worries about your kids in today’s schools - about what they’re being exposed to, who’s influencing them, or whether anyone truly sees them you need to know about Tom.

I first met Tom at a charity event in Bozeman, Montana. My wife and I had flown out from New York to support the cause. Tom was the featured performer - and what he did on that stage left the entire room speechless.

As powerful music filled the air, Tom began painting portraits upside down, blending storytelling and emotion in a way I had never seen before. Each brushstroke matched the rise and fall of the story he was telling. And then, at the perfect moment - when the music and message hit their emotional peak - he flipped the painting upright, revealing the face on the canvas.

The crowd erupted. You could feel it - the connection, the inspiration, the impact. Within minutes, people were bidding thousands of dollars for his paintings. Tom’s performance alone raised six figures that night for the charity.

After the show, we knew we had to meet him. We tracked him down in the crowd, only to discover he lived just an hour from us in New York. This wasn’t coincidence or by chance. Tom and I were meant to meet. The universe was connecting the dots long before either of us knew it.

As we got to know Tom, he shared what truly drives him. His heart isn’t in the spotlight or the corporate stages…it’s in the classrooms of America.

Tom grew up with a difficult and at times traumatic childhood, and he made it his mission to use art as a way to help students overcome pain, bullying, and self-doubt. Through his program, Emotion Into Art, he travels to schools across the country, painting live while delivering a message of hope, compassion, and courage.

My wife and I have sat in those school auditoriums and watched him work. We’ve seen kids cry in relief because, for the first time, someone made them feel seen. We’ve watched students raise their hands and admit to bullying, then promise to change. We’ve seen teachers in tears and moved by how much power a single act of art and honesty can have.

Tom believes in his mission so deeply that he covers most of his own travel expenses and charges schools only a fraction of what his performance is worth. His corporate events help make it possible, but his dream is to perform for free in every school across America, reaching every student who needs to hear his message.

We’re raising funds through our Freedom Fund to help Tom bring his message to more schools: 👉 Donate here to help Tom reach more students

You can also support his work by collecting one of his incredible patriotic paintings:
🖼️ View Tom’s art in our store

And of course, follow and share his journey online:
Follow Tom on Instagram: @tomvarano

In a time when the world feels dark, Tom reminds us that hope still lives here. This is what the heart of America looks like. ❤️

Stay strong,

Dave