Spring 2017 UVA Course Designed for Madison House Volunteers

Madison House and the UVA writing department will be partnering in the spring of 2017 to offer a unique one-credit liberal arts course to current Madison House student leaders and student volunteers.

Titled, "Words Matter: Writing, Leadership, and Community Engagement" (LASE 2559) and taught by Kate Stephenson, the course will explore the relationship between the written word, being a leader and being actively involved in the community. Madison House student leaders will draw on their current experiences to reflect on their involvement with community programs and their role as liaisons between the University and the Charlottesville community. 

"We are excited to partner with the UVA writing department to offer an opportunity for Madison House leaders and volunteers to connect their experiences in the community to their academic and professional pursuits," says Director of Community Engagement Rachel Winters. "Participating in a course with ample opportunities for writing and reflection will provide students a dedicated space to make meaning of their community engagement experiences, and the potential effect it has on them as students and citizens." 

Students will collaborate with a community partner and the professor to develop a writing project that explores the intersections between social issues, politics and civic engagement. These projects range from research papers to photo essays, oral histories or digital writing. Participants will also learn how to present leadership experiences on a resume and in a professional interview—demonstrating how writing lives beyond the classroom and evokes change in the community. 

For more information on the course, please contact instructor Kate Stephenson at sks9h@eservices.virginia.edu, or our Director of Community Engagement Rachel Winters at rwinters@madisonhouse.org

New Director of Development Joins Madison House

We are thrilled to announce that Melissa Fountain will be joining Madison House as our new Director of Development!

Melissa comes to Madison House after nearly ten years of experience working with UVA Advancement. Most recently, she served as the Associate Director of Reunion Giving at the University. 

Melissa brings a wealth of development experience to the Madison House team, and we look forward to her official start the week of November 21. 

You can reach Melissa at mfountain@madisonhouse.org.

Be a Sponsor for Madison House's Holiday Sharing

Madison House's annual Holiday Sharing program kicked off with "Falliday Sharing," a festive "tailgate" on The Lawn. Each year, with the help of students leaders, volunteers, organizations and individuals from across the community, Holiday Sharing partners with the Salvation Army of Charlottesville to provide holiday gifts and three full meals for over 100 low-income families. 

Now, Holiday Sharing needs your help! Sign up to sponsor a family in need. 

"Sponsoring a family with Holiday Sharing provides the opportunity to make a huge impact on the lives of people in our very own Charlottesville community," says Head Program Director Emily Brown. "Many recipients have expressed that without Holiday Sharing, celebrating the holidays in their household just wouldn't be possible."

The deadline to sign up to sponsor a family is November 18. On December 3, or "Distribution Day," volunteers will be able to give their donations directly to the gift recipients in a special celebration of giving and the holiday spirit. 

For more information, please email holidaysharing@madisonhouse.org, or read an overview of our Holiday Sharing program.

Alumna Profile: Sarah Rae, UVA Class of 2007 - Medical Services

Did you know more than 30,000 UVA alumni have volunteered with Madison House since the early 1970s? We caught up with one of them, Sarah Rae Easter, and asked her to share how service has been a part of her life since graduating from the University of Virginia in 2007. Here's what Sarah Rae had to say:

"Delivering babies is the best job in the world. As a Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, I get to witness one of life's most precious moments on a daily basis. Certainly my hard work and formal education at UVA afforded me the opportunity to care for patients in this unique way. But my informal education at Madison House played a huge role in my path towards a career in medicine.

As a volunteer with Madison House's Medical Services program, I spent four years at volunteering in the dialysis unit at UVA Medical Center. Each week, I came in to help healthcare providers or educators organize their work on the unit. But I spent most of my tie in the dialysis center talking with and learning from the patients there for treatment.

The remarkable thing about service is that while most of us volunteer out of a sense of altruism, we often leave with as many benefits as we give to those serve. Being a doctor is no different. These special times spent with remarkable individuals through Madison House gave me the first glimpse into what a unique privilege it is to care for patients.

My involvement with Madison House paved the way for other experiences at UVA, including being Program Director for the Medical Services Program at the UVA Kidney Center, serving on Madison House's board of directors, and opening the door for many other service-oriented opportunities throughout Grounds.

Most importantly, my time at Madison House gave me the education and inspiration to pursue a career in medicine and celebrate babies' birthdays every day!"

Come to the Madison House Programs Fair on August 29

'Hoos, are you looking for a way to volunteer this fall semester? Come to Madison House's Volunteer Programs Fair on the South Lawn in front of Old Cabell Hall on August 29 anytime between 11am and 2pm.

Madison House is your student volunteer center. Last year, 3,114 UVA students volunteered with 175 community partners through Madison House. Whatever your passion, we can help you find a way to give back to the local community. 

During the Madison House's Volunteer Programs Fair, you can meet the students who serve as directors for our many service programs and learn more about how *you* can get involved.

Please invite your fellow 'Hoos to our Facebook event and help us spread the word!

2016 Madison House Volunteer of the Year

Madison House named Holly Brooks as its 2016 Volunteer of the Year this past spring. Holly is a rising third-year student from Atlanta, pursuing an Echols Interdisciplinary Major in Sustainable Agriculture. She has volunteered with AHIP - Home Repair Nonprofit and The Haven's Housing2Home initiative, both through the Housing Improvement program at Madison House. This fall, Holly will serve as a Program Director for Housing Improvement.

Holly says, "Volunteering with Madison House is important to me because it allows me to give back to a community that is so generous to UVA students."

Holly is also meaningfully involved other activities around Grounds. She volunteers weekly with Morven Kitchen Garden at the University of Virginia, and this fall she will act as their student beekeeping leader. She is also an active member of First Year Players and sings with one of UVA's jazz combos.

Congratulations, Holly, and thank you for everything you do!

Madison House Alumni Council Names 2016 Alum of the Year

The Madison House Alumni Council has named Julia Shafer (member of the U.Va. Class of 2012) as its Alum of the Year! We asked Julia to share a little about herself and how service has been a part of her life since graduating from the University of Virginia:

"Manahoana! My name is Julia and I graduated from UVA in 2012 with a degree in Foreign Affairs.

I am currently a second year Education Volunteer in Madagascar with Peace Corps. I live in a small town about 60 miles south of the capital, Antananarivo, in the chilly highlands. I teach English to kids of all ages, from tiny primary school kids up through adults at a private school. Outside of teaching English, I led a GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) camp to help empower young girls in my community to become leaders. Some of the girls that attended the camp had never left our small town before so it was an exciting week. Outside of teaching and the GLOW camp, life is very laid back in my town. I spend a lot of time talking with people at the market, helping my friend at her soup shop, and exploring the big red island. If you ever get a chance put Madagascar on your must visit list. Yes, there are plenty of lemurs, but there is also so much more to see.

My two years of service with Peace Corps is quickly coming to an end (very hard to believe). I will be leaving Madagascar in August of this year. While I am unsure what my immediate future holds when I return to the United States, I eventually would like to return to school and get a masters in school counseling to continue working with kids and help them better navigate their future. If anyone is interested in learning more about being a volunteer with Peace Corps I am happy to speak with you!"

You also read more about Julia's time with the Peace Corps in this article from UVA Today.

[Image details: Julia with a group of her students via UVA Today]

Awards for Service During Valedictory Exercises

During Valedictory Exercises for the Class of 2016 at the University of Virginia, the Ray of Light Award was given to Annie Clark and the 2016 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was given posthumously to Margaret Lowe. 

Student trustee Elise Bottimore had these words to say about Annie: "Clark has tutored prison inmates through Madison House’s Beyond the Bars program, conducted advocacy workshops dedicated to the prevention of intimate partner violence through the One Love Foundation, and served as a leader in her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. She is known by her peers for her integrity and compassion."

And, here is what Daniel Judge, chair of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award Committee, said about Margaret: "Margaret Lowe was a fourth-year Classics-Ancient Greek major who was looking ahead to medical school when she unexpectedly passed away last year while running – one of her favorite activities. During her time at the University of Virginia Lowe co-chaired the student-led Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team, and led various educational efforts aimed at reducing the risks of alcohol use among her peers, volunteered with Madison House, and was a counselor with Camp Kasem, a summer camp for children who have a parent living with cancer. She also biked last summer from coast to coast with Bike and Build to promote and raise funds for affordable housing. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi and a leader within the Inter-Sorority Council."

To read the full article on UVA Today, please click here.

Photos from this article were taken by Dan Addison and Sanjay Suchak.