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!
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.
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.”
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.”
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."
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."
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.”
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.
Jaime Lear is a second-year chemistry major with a sign language minor. Currently, Jaime volunteers through Madison House as a patient ambassador at the hospital where she fulfills deliveries and special requests from patients by visiting the different floors with a cart of entertaining things to offer, such as magazines or crossword puzzles.
An Echols Scholar and a College Science Scholar, Cheng also received the 2018 George C. and Carroll F.M. Seward Scholarship (a College of Arts & Sciences Deans’ Scholarship), a College of Arts & Sciences Small Research and Travel Grant and the Laurie Lee Woolen Memorial Scholarship. A dean’s list student and recipient of Intermediate Honors, she chairs the College Science Scholars Council; is a program director for the Madison House Adopt-a-Grandparent Program….
An Echols Scholar and College Science Scholar, Dove-Anna Johnson is a member of the Daniel Hale PreMed Honor Society; American Medical Student Association; the Undergraduate Research Network; OneWay InterVarsity Christian Fellowship; the Cavalier Symphony Orchestra; and is a Madison House volunteer for Medical Services.
Caroline Hallowell is a second-year in the College of Arts & Sciences and serves as the Head Program Director for Madison House's Summer Programs and as the Coordinating Program Director for Madison House Medical Services. Caroline also is a volunteer in the Acute Pediatric Program at UVA Health System and a Project SERVE Site Leader.
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.
“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.
Janee Murray is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences double-majoring in Foreign Affairs and History. Janee is involved with the University's service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega; volunteers with both Madison House and the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center; and has been recognised by Student Council as a Service Scholar.
“Offered through the English department’s Academic and Professional Writing Program, “Tutoring Writing Across Cultures” goes deeper than teaching pedagogy. It encourages students to understand the people whom they are tutoring and take into account their native writing styles. Taught by Kate Kostelnik, an assistant professor of English, the writing seminar incorporates service learning, in partnership with Madison House, the independent, nonprofit volunteer center for UVA students.”
Vikram Seshadri is a third-year in the School of Engineering and Applied Science majoring in biomedical engineering. Vikram is the program director for Madison House's new program, "The Gym," a member of HELPline's outreach committee, and also works as a mentor for Autism Allies. He's also an Eagle Scout!
Julia Hohenstein is a third-year in the McIntire School of Commerce, concentrating in Finance and IT and also double-majoring in statistics. Julia is the co-chair of the Madison House Board of Directors, a board that is comprised of five student members and 10 community members. She has also volunteered with Madison House as a tutor and an income tax preparation assistant through the program CASH. Additionally, Julia participated in Alternative Spring Break during both her first and second years. Her first trip was to Portland, OR, where she worked with Portland Parks and Recreation. The following year, Julia attended the Death Valley, CA, trip where she worked with the National Parks Service. Both trips were programs that focused on environmental stewardship. Finally, Julia also serves on the Public Service Programming Board, an organization that strives to provide funding for student-run service projects that benefit the community.
“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.”
“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.
Rachel Newman is a fourth-year in the School of Engineering, majoring in biomedical engineering. She is the head program director for the Madison House recreational therapy program. Through the recreational therapy program, volunteers interact with individuals with physical or mental disabilities, helping others learn and develop essential life skills.
