Animals & Environment, Community Partners
Madison House
Madison House Volunteers Flock to Hogs and ...

Hogs and Kisses is a micro-sanctuary that opened its barn doors in Charlottesville in 2021. This year, Madison House is partnering with the farm to give UVA students an opportunity to volunteer with the seven pigs, five rabbits, and two turkeys! Click to learn more about Hogs & Kisses and the volunteer experience.

Madison House Volunteers Flock to Hogs and Kisses Farm Sanctuary
COVID-19, Community Partners, History, Volunteer Stories, UVA Students
Madison House
Looking Ahead, and Celebrating Over 50 Years of ...

Madison House’s Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH) program works to train and coordinate student-volunteers to provide free tax preparation for low- and moderate-income community members…This year marks 15 years since the launch of the C’ville Tax Aid Coalition — a partnership including Madison House and the University of Virginia Community Credit Union that is coordinated by the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. Since its inception in 2007, the Coalition has generated over $35 million in direct economic impact for the Charlottesville area community.

Looking Ahead, and Celebrating Over 50 Years of Madison House Tax Preparation
Volunteer Stories, UVA Students
Madison House
Student Leadership: Chelsea Li

As a first year at the University of Virginia (UVA), Chelsea Li (CLAS ‘20) wanted to soak up all the opportunities that the University had to offer. She found herself exploring new clubs and classes and was especially eager to be in the community. “In high school,” she said, “I felt as if I was missing a lot of the learning that happens outside the classroom.” This desire to stretch her curiosity across disciplines and interests, along with an intrinsic desire to uplift those around her, was what first brought Chelsea to Madison House.

Student Leadership: Chelsea Li
Alumni, Volunteer Stories, Student Athletes
Madison House
Olympic Silver Medalist Paige Madden’s Madison ...

The House has long been a place where students can come to find or rediscover themselves and their place within the community. This held true for Paige, who shared that “it gives me peace of mind knowing that I am a good swimmer but that's not what defines me. There's so much more to life, like helping others. My time at Madison House has allowed me to see that.”

Olympic Silver Medalist Paige Madden’s Madison House Experience
COVID-19, UVA Students
Madison House
Madison House Youth Mentoring Volunteer ...

Kruse, from Ridgeland, Mississippi, is a fourth-year student in the McIntire School of Commerce. She initially got involved in the program because of her prior experience in advocacy work.

“Ultimately, the goal of the program is for students to learn about environmental science through a native lens,” Kruse said. “Maelee Hearington, another UVA student, and I wrote the curriculum to focus on science, social activism and social justice. We also provide additional resources like workbooks, markers, easels and notebooks.”

Madison House Youth Mentoring Volunteer Inspires Native American Youth Through Science

Press

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Harmonies for Healing brightens up hospital life through music

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Harmonies for Healing brightens up hospital life through music

Influential Madison House program allows volunteer musicians to play for patients during long hospital stays.

When fourth-year College student Grant Frazier decided to combine his passions of music and medicine, he began working with Madison House to bring music into the hospital setting. This idea led to the creation of Harmonies for Healing, a program which sends three student musicians to the University’s Transitional Care Hospital each day with hopes of improving the lives of both patients and medical staff.

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Volunteer Spotlight: Shannon Mooney

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Volunteer Spotlight: Shannon Mooney

Every year, I pick up a different Madison House program as well, it just depends on what's going to fit my schedule the best! Through Madison House, I've volunteered with New Century Hospice, where I would act as a companion once a week to patients. As a companion, my job was mainly reading, playing board games, passing the time, or just listening to what the patients wanted to say. I initially joined because I was pre-med at the time, but I stayed with the program for the eye-opening and rewarding experience. It was decidedly the most difficult volunteering experience I've ever had, due to the nature of the position. But I always felt like I was doing something that mattered; a little act of kindness goes a long way.

City leaders discuss how UVA students can engage in community

City leaders discuss how UVA students can engage in community

The panel discussed how civic engagement can look like anything from going to Charlottesville City Council meetings to simply getting off Grounds.

Freilich said community service like through the Madison House is a great way to do that.

"The most important part is personal relationship," he said. "That way our students are hearing the stories of folks in the community and gaining first-hand knowledge of what's actually happening here in Charlottesville."

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‘We can’t build out of it’: Students confront Charlottesville’s housing crisis

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‘We can’t build out of it’: Students confront Charlottesville’s housing crisis

Matt Wajsgras, a fourth-year Engineering student and Madison House HALO program director, said his experience volunteering helped him better understand the Charlottesville community surrounding the University.

“When you get a new guest that hasn’t been there before one of the first things they do is they’ll come up and ask about case managers and what options they have for affordable housing and stuff,” Wajsgras said. “So you do hear a lot about it, and you can tell it’s something that’s one of the primary issues.”

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UVA Student-Athletes’ Effort Extends Well Beyond Gyms and Stadiums

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UVA Student-Athletes’ Effort Extends Well Beyond Gyms and Stadiums

UVA’s 750 student-athletes routinely take time out from classes, practices and games to volunteer in the community – in schools, in hospitals, at Habitat for Humanity builds, assisted-living facilities, Special Olympics events and more.

Some of UVA’s student-athletes volunteer through Athletes Committed to Education, or ACE, a Madison House program that connects more than 50 student-athletes to local elementary schools. They visit the schools on a weekly basis, allowing them to form strong bonds with students week after week, year after year.

UVA Conference Showcases Community Service, Advocacy, and Social Justice

UVA Conference Showcases Community Service, Advocacy, and Social Justice

The event was hosted by the Madison House, an independent volunteer student center.

"Hosting the IMPACT conference has been a chance for us to bring over 550 or so students and administrators from around the country here to Charlottesville to learn from some of our incredible nonprofit leaders, local activists," stated Tim Freilich, Executive Director of Madison House.

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ALUMNI, STUDENTS TO MARK HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY WITH FOOD DRIVE

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ALUMNI, STUDENTS TO MARK HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY WITH FOOD DRIVE

“When access to food is not consistent and dependable, a household is classified as food insecure,” Jane Colony Mills, Loaves & Fishes’ executive director, said. A UVA alumna, Mills herself volunteered with Madison House in a different program when she was a student.

Children make up almost 36 percent of the clientele served at the food pantry, and the percentage of senior citizens has more than doubled to nearly 14 percent, Mills said.

RYAN’S ON THE RUN AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR MADISON HOUSE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

RYAN’S ON THE RUN AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR MADISON HOUSE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS

“Running a marathon can be a solitary pursuit, so over the past few years I’ve tried to make it about more than just me,” [President Ryan] said. “In the past I’ve run for teachers, but this time I’ll be running to support Madison House, which does incredible work helping students serve the community. I want to thank everyone who is donating to help them do even more.”

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El evento “Celebración de Servicio” remarca a las organizaciones estudiantiles y sin fines de lucro durante el Fin de Semana Inaugural

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El evento “Celebración de Servicio” remarca a las organizaciones estudiantiles y sin fines de lucro durante el Fin de Semana Inaugural

“El día de hoy es para celebrar tanto el servicio como la comunidad y cuando se trata de la comunidad, lo que a mí me parece increíblemente importante es construir puentes”, dijo el presidente de la Universidad, Jim Ryan.

Como parte de la celebración inaugural del presidente de la Universidad Jim Ryan este fin de semana pasado, se llevó a cabo un evento de “Celebración de Servicio” el sábado en el McIntire Amphitheater [Anfiteatro de McIntire] para enfatizar el compromiso de Ryan como el noveno presidente de la U.Va. al servicio público y para devolver a la comunidad local.

El evento público gratuito acentuó las organizaciones locales sin fines de lucro dirigidas por estudiantes y en el área de Charlottesville, incluyendo Madison House [Casa Madison] y otras organizaciones independientes contratadas.

La Casa Madison es una organización de voluntarios sin fines de lucro, la cual no está afiliada con la Universidad, y ubicada en 170 Rugby Road, cerca del Museo de Arte Fralin.

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Madison House and Charlottesville Nonprofits Launch #DearYoungPerson Campaign

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Madison House and Charlottesville Nonprofits Launch #DearYoungPerson Campaign

“After the horrific events of Aug. 11 and 12 at the University and in downtown Charlottesville, Athena’s first thought was how to reassure area youth that they are loved,” said Madison House Executive Director Tim Freilich. “I’m happy that Madison House volunteers can help deliver that message.”

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One BIG day: Madison House student leaders and volunteers ready for The BIG Event on April 8

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One BIG day: Madison House student leaders and volunteers ready for The BIG Event on April 8

“The BIG Event furthers Madison House’s goal of building partnerships with individuals and organizations throughout the area,,” said Madison House Executive Director Tim Freilich. “We are proud to bring hundreds of individuals together in a day of service to build relationships and make tangible differences in the community.”

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Madison House Volunteers featured in Virginia Magazine

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Madison House volunteers were the subject of a feature article in the summer 2015 issue of Virginia Magazine, published by the U.Va. Alumni Association. Volunteers from five of our programs were interviewed: Latino and Migrant Aid, Recreational Therapy, Big Siblings, Adopt-A-Grandparent, and Housing Improvement. 

Read the full article here.

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Katie Bailey Finds Her Comfort Zone in Volunteering

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From UVA Today:

“I feel most comfortable when I’m doing something, or giving back,” said Katie Bailey, who graduated from the University of Virginia on Sunday with a double major in urban and environmental planning and in Spanish, plus a minor in global sustainability. She also completed the McIntire Business Institute certification program.

No doubt, Bailey made herself mighty comfortable at U.Va. Shortly after arriving on Grounds, she threw herself into the Relay For Life organization, which raises funds for the American Cancer Society. U.Va.’s chapter of the national organization had raised over $1.25 million, and is one of the top 15 collegiate events in the world.

She also served as a program director for Madison House’s Cavs in the Classroom program, and was a student mentor for U.Va. Pals, a volunteer for the English as Second or Other Language program and a member of U.Va.’s Sustainability Committee. 

Not surprisingly, then, her classmates gave her their Community Service Award during Valedictory Exercises on Friday.


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CBS-19 Shines a Spotlight on Day of Service

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Watch: CBS-19 - UVa Students Participate in Nationwide Volunteer Effort (April 13, 2015)

From CBS-19:

April 11 marks the Big Event, a day where students across the country volunteered their time to help non-profits in the community.

More than 300 University of Virginia students came together to give back to Central Virginia.

It all started in the morning at the Madison House where students were paired with different companies and non-profits to volunteer.

Some students were paired with with Alloy Workshop in Charlottesville to build a structure that will help bring awareness to the non-profit group Computers for Kids.

Victoria Long, a staffer at the Madison House, was glad to be a part of the program.

"Lots of local non-profits and charities have kind of a wish list of projects they can never get around to” said Long. “And they don't have the manpower for and so what the big event is all about is for UVa students to swoop in and help with the projects."

"This particular event,” said Tricia Howell, program director for Computers for Kids. “Is a wonderful opportunity to for us to partner with other organizations so alloy workshop: when would we have ever been able to get with those guys? They’ve been tremendous."

The structure will be on display along with other non-profit designs next weekend at the Tom-Tom Festival in Charlottesville.