Madison House offers a wide variety of tutoring programs for UVA volunteers who want to work with students, ranging from elementary school years through high school. The tutoring programs are always seeking new volunteers, and scheduling can be extremely flexible, considering that elementary school students meet primarily with one teacher for the whole day. Read on to learn more about Madison House volunteer experiences and opportunities to get involved!
Madison House Volunteers Support Meals on Wheels to Combat Local Food Insecurity
Walking Bus: Fostering Relationships Between Elementary and College Students
Walking Bus, a new Madison House program, arose when a detrimental shortage of bus drivers led Charlottesville City Schools to expand their walking zones. Because of this, all students within a 3/4 mile radius of Clark Elementary School must walk to school or be dropped off. In light of this, Madison House volunteers began walking children to school for what can be a long and dark route.
Student Spotlight: Margot Seidel
Cville Tax Aid Coalition Provides Free Tax Preparation Assistance
Madison House, the independent volunteer center for students at the University of Virginia, has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and the UVA Community Credit Union to offer free tax preparation services for residents in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Together, these organizations form the Cville Tax Aid Coalition. The coalition partners offer in-person tax assistance, drop-off service, and 24/7 self-service options.
The Gift of Friendship and the Volunteer Experience
One of the greatest advantages of service is meeting new people. In fact, a highlight of Madison House alumnus Mike Loeffelman’s time at UVA was the close bond he developed with fellow student and volunteer Andrew McCormick. Both Mike and Andrew found that their time at Madison House helped them build relationships and pursue passions that are lifelong journeys, and they have advice for college students contemplating what they want to do and who they want to be.
Madison House Volunteers Help Organize UVA Cancer Center Wreath Auction
The UVA Cancer Center Wreath Auction is back after a hiatus due to COVID. This year, wreath auctions will occur at the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center (ECCCC) and UVA Cancer Center Augusta. Team members from across UVA Health have generously donated their time and skill to decorate these amazing holiday wreaths. To get this project off the ground, Madison House volunteers Haeli Knox and Ahmad Shahid helped the ECCCC with logistics and promotion. UVA Connect recently sat down with them to discuss their studies, careers, volunteerism, and UVA.
Student Spotlight: Jack Engel
After serving as the program director for Madison House’s Music Resource Center partnership last year, UVA third-year student Jack Engel is now a head program director for Madison House’s Youth Mentoring program. His journey from volunteer to program director to head program director has been a highlight of his time at UVA.
Apples Don't Fall Far: Meet the Mother and Daughter Who Both Embraced Madison House
Jenna Delgado is a fourth-year UVA student and is in her third year of coaching basketball as a Madison House volunteer. Jenna has spent most of her life volunteering. As a kid, she worked with her mom, Tracy, to pack lunches for kids in the summer so that everyone in her community in Atlanta, Georgia, would be sure to have something to eat during the day. In middle school, Jenna started coaching basketball, something that has continued as a passion and interest of hers. But she never thought back then that she’d attend the same college as her mom and volunteer with the same organization.
What is the Public Service Pathways program at UVA?
Madison House is proud to be a founding partner of the new UVA Public Service Pathways program! The program integrates public service into the student experience at UVA through research and service opportunities, community collaboration, internships, and mentoring. Students who choose to complete the program will earn the designation of Presidential Public Service Scholar. More importantly, students will acquire valuable experience that supports their own unique pathways for a lifelong commitment to public service.
Hoos Serving: Sonia Patel
Sonia Patel (she/her) is a fourth-year Cognitive Science major in the College of Arts & Sciences. Sonia is the president of Charlottesville Community Access to Resources, Exposure, and Support (Cville CARES), a CIO whose mission is to serve the underprivileged and underserved community of Charlottesville. Sonia also is a volunteer with Medical Services and Head Program Director for Tutoring with Madison House. Her post-graduation plans include attending medical school and becoming a physician in the future.
Top 10 ways to give back to the Charlottesville community
Madison House is the independent volunteer center for students at the University. They do it all — coordinate volunteers, develop student leaders and even build community partnerships. With over 20 ongoing programs like recreational therapy, athletics and child care, volunteering at Madison House gives students the chance to do something fun and enjoyable while simultaneously helping out the Charlottesville community. Registration is available online with a University email.
HELP Line Launches Phone Hotline for 2022 - 2023 School Year
HELP Line, a UVA student-led and operated crisis hotline opened its telephone lines for the current school year on September 12, 2022. The HELP Line phone number is 434-924-TALK, and its services are anonymous, confidential, and non-judgmental. The program welcomes a new staff of anonymous volunteers to the phone lines following an intensive semester of training last spring.
IN MEMORIAM: JULIAN ROBERTSON, IMPACTFUL FRIEND OF UVA
Throughout the last 30 years of his life, Robertson championed many causes at the University and related initiatives. He made substantial gifts to the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and through his foundation, was behind donations to the student volunteer center Madison House, as well as a $2.2 million “Robertson Innovations in Education” grant supporting research to enhance teaching practices and student learning experiences.
WHAT MAKES FOR A SUCCESSFUL UVA STUDENT? VETERAN PROFESSOR WEIGHS IN AS CLASSES BEGIN
I am always impressed with the intellectual curiosity of so many of my students. But, I am also impressed at how many appreciate their good fortune, gifts and talents and feel determined to share them with those who are less fortunate. Over the years, more and more of my students share with me their plans to seek humanitarian careers.
Also, as a board member, and now the co-chair of the Madison House, I have been impressed by the number of students who dedicate themselves to a number of community programs, while juggling a rigorous academic load.
Community Partners: Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Virginia
End of Academic Year Summary
Despite the challenges COVID-19 provided, Madison House HPD’s, volunteers, and staff were able to continue to provide services to the Charlottesville community without spreading a single known case of COVID-19!
Additionally, 100% of the House’s head program directors surveyed said that their time at Madison House strengthened their understanding of themselves as a leader, the communities surrounding UVA, future career goals, and their sense of community at UVA.
