Madison House Programs, UVA Students
Madison House
Get Involved with Madison House at UVA

Whether you're passionate about health care, education, environmental sustainability, or animal welfare, Madison House offers a wide range of programs to match your interests. Discover how to become a volunteer in one of our programs!

Get Involved with Madison House at UVA
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
COVID-19, UVA Students
Madison House
Hoos Helping (Virtually!)

On March 11, 2020, all Madison House in-person volunteering was suspended in an effort to slow the emergence of COVID-19. Shortly after, a Spring Action Team headed by Madison House student volunteers Simmy Bhatia, Caroline Hallowell, and Mikaela Rirchardson worked in coordination with Dr. Rose Cole, the Madison House Director of Community Engagement, to begin developing a virtual volunteering initiative called "Hoos Helping."

Hoos Helping (Virtually!)

UVA Students

,

Student Leadership: Chelsea Li

,
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.

, ,

Holiday Sharing Success!

, ,
Holiday Sharing Success!

Holiday Sharing (HOLS) is one of Madison House’s oldest student-led programs and has long provided Charlottesville families with food and personalized gifts for the holidays. This program does most of their work leading up to the holiday season, and, during this time, students work with the Salvation Army and Madison House’s LAMA (Latinx and Migrant Aid) program to collect, assemble, and distribute gifts.

AWARD RECIPIENT’S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON FEMALE ARTISTS FROM THE 1980S

AWARD RECIPIENT’S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON FEMALE ARTISTS FROM THE 1980S

Graeff, a fourth-year art history major and a recipient of a University of Virginia Arts Award, has taken up the cause of a trio of female artists from the 1980s who she argues have been overlooked.

Aside from her studies, Graeff is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority’s Beta Sigma chapter. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she was involved with a Madison House arts organization at Venable Elementary School.

Service and Self: Humility and Wisdom

Service and Self: Humility and Wisdom

At the University of Virginia, we pride ourselves on being an elite university that prepares its students to serve the public. Madison House, hundreds of CIOs, and various NGOs in and around the University are full of students looking to serve, and there is a lot of good service, too. However, there is a component to public service that is necessary but often forgotten: humility. And I mean genuine humility, not just the sort we hear all too often as a preamble to accepting recognition ("I am humbled to….").

,

Batten Food Drive Supports 120 Local Families Through Partnership with Madison House

,
Batten Food Drive Supports 120 Local Families Through Partnership with Madison House

Launched as part of a new partnership between Batten and Madison House, an independent volunteer center for students at the University of Virginia, the drive complements Holiday Sharing, a program that numbers among Madison House’s oldest and has long provided Charlottesville families with food and personalized gifts for the holidays. Due to the pandemic, a community partner that had been assisting with food for the families was unable to do so this year, so the Batten community stepped in to fully fund and shop for food for all 120 families participating in the Holiday Sharing program.

,

Madison House Youth Mentoring Volunteer Inspires Native American Youth Through Science

,
Madison House Youth Mentoring Volunteer Inspires Native American Youth Through Science

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.”

,

Hoos Helping (Virtually!)

,
Hoos Helping (Virtually!)

On March 11, 2020, all Madison House in-person volunteering was suspended in an effort to slow the emergence of COVID-19. Shortly after, a Spring Action Team headed by Madison House student volunteers Simmy Bhatia, Caroline Hallowell, and Mikaela Rirchardson worked in coordination with Dr. Rose Cole, the Madison House Director of Community Engagement, to begin developing a virtual volunteering initiative called "Hoos Helping."

,

Madison House Tutoring Volunteer Wins Olympic Silver

,
Madison House Tutoring Volunteer Wins Olympic Silver

Four Virginia swimmers made the trip to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics. Four Virginia swimmers are going home with medals. Paige Madden, alongside Allison Schmitt, Katie McLaughlin, and Katie Ledecky, grabbed a silver medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.

,

The real world: Internship alternatives offer hands-on work experience

,
The real world: Internship alternatives offer hands-on work experience

As a first-year student in U.Va.’s McIntire School of Commerce, Myles McPartland joined CASH — Creating Assets, Savings and Hope — a tax preparation club that is part of the Madison House, a student volunteer nonprofit in Charlottesville. McPartland is confident that his four years in CASH equipped him with vital skills for a career working on a team that makes rapid-fire stock market decisions.

,

UVA TRIO TO STUDY IN FRANCE, ITALY AND SOUTH KOREA

,
UVA TRIO TO STUDY IN FRANCE, ITALY AND SOUTH KOREA

Three University of Virginia students will study overseas as Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholars. Autumn Harris of Newport News, a rising fourth-year sociology and pre-law major, will study at the International Studies Institute in Florence, Italy. Harris is a member of the University Programs Council; Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority; Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity; and a Madison House volunteer.

,

38 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WIN FULL MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND UVA

,
38 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WIN FULL MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND UVA

Jefferson Scholars historically have had an impressive record of leadership at the University,” said Ben Skipper, director of graduate and undergraduate programs at the Jefferson Scholars Foundation. “Since the first class joined UVA in 1981, they have held leadership positions on the Judiciary and Honor committees, Student Council, The Cavalier Daily, Madison House and countless student organizations.

Jefferson Trust awards over $100,000 of grants to community projects supporting anti-racist curricula, STEM and access to education

Jefferson Trust awards over $100,000 of grants to community projects supporting anti-racist curricula, STEM and access to education

Student involvement with the project will also be possible through Engagements courses, which serve as the foundation of the general education experience, as well as research projects aimed at improving early childhood education and potential volunteer activities coordinated with student organizations like Madison House.

,

Hoos Serving: Daniel Chen

,
Hoos Serving: Daniel Chen

Daniel Chen is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences. He is in the interdisciplinary neuroscience program and plans to attend medical school this year. His volunteer work focuses on providing UVA students with service-learning opportunities. He serves as the co-president of the Brain Exercise Initiative (BEI) UVA Chapter, a Madison House Medical Services Program Director, and the founder of a mission partnership of Friendship Bench (FB) of Zimbabwe in Charlottesville.

Class of 2021: Sterling Clay Has Learned to ‘Compete With Yourself, and Not Others’

Class of 2021: Sterling Clay Has Learned to ‘Compete With Yourself, and Not Others’

Sterling Clay landed his dream job. Thanks to his diligence studying in the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, he’ll start his professional life as a technology consulting analyst with Accenture Federal Services, come graduation this spring.

The IT & Management student served as program director for Madison House’s Creating Assets, Savings & Hope program, which trains undergrads to become volunteer income tax assistants.

Women’s tennis sophomore Natasha Subhash: Killer on the court, kind off the court

Women’s tennis sophomore Natasha Subhash: Killer on the court, kind off the court

Subhash’s tennis game is founded upon control and organization, as those around her tell it. When asked about her on-court presence, Coach Sara O’Leary describes her style of play as all-court and focused.

When she isn’t beating up on ACC competition, studying or trying new pastries, Subhash does her best to give back to the community, where she helps tutor younger students in math and reading comprehension through Madison House.

, ,

Madison House responds to COVID-19 with additional programming for a virtual age

, ,
Madison House responds to COVID-19 with additional programming for a virtual age

Madison House, the independent volunteer center for students at the University, has continued to organize service work throughout the pandemic, confronting challenges of volunteer work in a virtual world and adapting programming to respond to the Charlottesville community’s most pressing needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided program directors at Madison House with an opportunity to think about the accessibility of programs and to reevaluate student and community participation, according to Johnson. New programs have included closer connections to the University Equity Center in order to promote this accessibility.

,

Without travel or a traditional week off, Alternative Spring Break serves local community

,
Without travel or a traditional week off, Alternative Spring Break serves local community

ASB has been a prominent CIO at the University since 1992 when it began as a part of Madison House before eventually branching off. ASB provides service-based travel opportunities to students on Grounds at locations across the United States, and in past years, has organized between 15 and 30 national trips. Programs work with organizations like the National Park Service and Habitat for Humanity International over the span of a normal, seven-day spring break.

,

UVA STUDENTS PROVIDE TAX ASSISTANCE TO CHARLOTTESVILLE RESIDENTS

,
UVA STUDENTS PROVIDE TAX ASSISTANCE TO CHARLOTTESVILLE RESIDENTS

CASH is a tax program run by Madison House, the independent volunteer center for UVA students. The program is run in partnership with the local United Way. It is designed to help low-income workers file their taxes and maximize their refunds. “We receive tax documents from local Charlottesville community members making under $57,000 a year,” Hedgecock said. “Then we will prepare the tax forms for them, run them through their refund, make sure it’s checked several times to ensure accuracy and really explain why they are getting a refund or not.”

,

Period at U.Va. combats period stigma, lack of menstrual health products in quarantine housing

,
Period at U.Va. combats period stigma, lack of menstrual health products in quarantine housing

In 2018, Student Council and the Inter-Sorority Council piloted a menstrual hygiene program, which involved placing free menstrual hygiene products in five Newcomb Hall bathrooms for a two week period. Additional funding was provided for the initiative in 2019, with locations of free menstrual hygiene products expanding to bathrooms in Newcomb Hall, Madison House and various libraries on Grounds.

Members of Period at U.Va. work to continue educating University students and community members about menstruation while addressing the menstrual needs of students on Grounds.