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
,

Therapeutic Adventures: 500 Volunteers, 40 Years & Infinite Impact

,
Therapeutic Adventures: 500 Volunteers, 40 Years & Infinite Impact

For over 40 years, UVA students have been volunteering with Therapeutic Adventures and IndependencePlus Adaptive Sports. Mark Andrews founded the program when he was a graduate student at UVA from 1980-1983. In the past four decades, a family-like community has developed among the athletes and volunteers as they inspire and encourage one another. “We exist to provide leadership, programs, and specialty therapeutic services to educate, to challenge, and to inspire persons of all ages and abilities. Individuals who have experienced traumatic or catastrophic life events learn positive ways to adapt and overcome those challenges. Our unique approach of teaching, coaching, guiding, and mentoring makes it possible for persons with disabilities and complex medical needs to restore, to rebuild, to re-create themselves,” comments Mark. 

The Thomas Jefferson Adult Career Education Program Builds Community

The Thomas Jefferson Adult Career Education Program Builds Community

“TJACE is an adult education program designed to serve the Charlottesville community in teaching English to immigrants and refugees (or English Speakers of Other Languages),” explains Zainab Razzaq, the Program Director of TJACE and the Head Program Director for Adult Education at Madison House. The program not only helps adults learn the English language, it also provides cultural knowledge about living in the US, functional skills, study skills for the citizenship or GED exams, and employment preparation, such as practice job interviews. Read more about the TJACE program and Madison House volunteer experience.

,

Alumni Spotlight: Barnaby Lo

,
Alumni Spotlight: Barnaby Lo

Barnaby Lo swiftly ascended the ranks from his initial steps as a CASH volunteer at UVA, becoming a program director in his second year and a head program director in his third and fourth years. Barnaby graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce in 2015 and has since carved a distinguished career path as a Principal at Towerbrook Capital in New York. Reflecting on his journey, Barnaby speaks with a sense of pride and gratitude, attributing much of his success to the life lessons he learned at Madison House. Read more about Barnaby’s volunteer experience at Madison House.

, ,

Student Spotlight: Dao Tran

, ,
Student Spotlight: Dao Tran

With seven programs under her Madison House umbrella, third-year UVA student Dao Tran manages 65 volunteers and oversaw 500 hours combined of service in the Fall 2023 semester. Dao is Head Program Director of After School Programming, as well as a co-Program Director for the Music Resource Center. Read on to find out why Dao is invested in serving the community.

, ,

Holiday Sharing Event Spreads Holiday Cheer Like Never Before

, ,
Holiday Sharing Event Spreads Holiday Cheer Like Never Before

The Holiday Sharing Program (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, creating a remarkable impact and providing invaluable support to families in the Charlottesville area. This year HOLS partnered with the Hope House Program to serve unhoused parents with minor children in their physical custody. Under the leadership and dedication of Student Head Program Directors Alie Gibson and Carol Cho, enough money was raised to serve 53 families. Read more about this growing program.

A Taxing and Rewarding Training Process: New CASH Volunteers are Almost Ready!

A Taxing and Rewarding Training Process: New CASH Volunteers are Almost Ready!

Tax season 2024 is right around the corner! The Madison House CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Program began recruiting and training volunteers for their tax preparation services in September. After receiving a record number of volunteer applications, the new recruits selected underwent weeks of training and are now ready to take their certification exams. Read on to learn more about their experience as they prepare to assist local residents in filing their taxes and claiming tax credits for which they are eligible.

,

UVA Students Gear Up to Help Charlottesville Community Bikes

,
UVA Students Gear Up to Help Charlottesville Community Bikes

New this year, Madison House is partnering with Charlottesville Community Bikes, a nonprofit used-bike shop that sells bikes, performs bike repairs, and offers bike voucher programs to local children, teens & adults. Learn more about the bike referral and bike voucher programs, as well as the volunteer experience at Charlottesville Community Bikes.

, ,

Student Spotlight: Riley Sweet, Program Director for Holiday Sharing

, ,
Student Spotlight: Riley Sweet, Program Director for Holiday Sharing

As the holiday season draws near, a dedicated team of student volunteers is working to make the festivities even more special for families living in Charlottesville. Holiday Sharing, a volunteer program at Madison House, ensures that everyone gets to participate in the festive atmosphere. As a program director, Riley Sweet organizes volunteer shifts once a week to prepare for the final day of distributing gifts. Read more about the joy she feels in helping share holiday cheer to local families in need.

,

Community-Engaged Learning: UVA Students at the Intersection of Academics and Active Volunteerism

,
Community-Engaged Learning: UVA Students at the Intersection of Academics and Active Volunteerism

UVA Professor Kate Stephenson combines community engagement and writing skills in her first-year writing requirements. Essentially, her courses focus on community-based learning, which Professor Stephenson describes as the “intersection of activism and coursework”. Read more about the benefits of community-engaged learning as shared by Professor Stephenson and her students.

,

Just What the Doctor Ordered: An Examination of Health and Medical Services Volunteer Opportunities

,
Just What the Doctor Ordered: An Examination of Health and Medical Services Volunteer Opportunities

Every year, Madison House offers many opportunities for students to get involved with volunteering in the health and medical sectors. These opportunities range from interpersonal interactions with patients to administrative work in both clinical and non-clinical settings, from emergency rooms to nursing homes to recreational facilities. Read more about the volunteer experience and Madison House’s call for additional community partners.

,

The CASH Program's Impact Is Growing | Now Recruiting Additional Volunteers

,
The CASH Program's Impact Is Growing | Now Recruiting Additional Volunteers

With over $3 million dollars in impact and more than 700 Charlottesville area residents having received free tax preparation assistance last year, the CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) program through Madison House provides a huge, direct impact in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Actively seeking applicants, the CASH program is a fantastic way for UVA students to get involved in the broader Virginia community. 

Charting Success: A Transformative Staff Retreat for a Non-Profit on a Mission

Charting Success: A Transformative Staff Retreat for a Non-Profit on a Mission

Nestled among lush green landscapes at Morven, the site of UVA’s growing Sustainability Lab, the Madison House team recently embarked on a journey to chart the course for a productive year ahead. The annual staff retreat, a time-honored tradition, took on special significance this year as it saw the integration of new team members and a deep dive into crucial topics of partnerships, access and equity, financial growth, and organizational culture.

, ,

UVA Faculty Spotlight: Bonnie Gordon

, ,
UVA Faculty Spotlight: Bonnie Gordon

For Bonnie Gordon, community engaged learning, public service, equity, and Madison House are all intertwined. She is trained as a music historian but has spent much of her time at UVA thinking about community engagement in the curriculum and as a co-curricular endeavor. She says that Madison House has been a key partner every step of the way. Read more about how innovative curricular design, service opportunities, and collaborative partnerships work in harmony to enhance the student learning experience and benefit the community.

,

Community Partners: Toni Jackson of New Perspective Fitness

,
Community Partners: Toni Jackson of New Perspective Fitness

For the past three years, Toni Jackson has been the Madison House community partner for The Gym, a Recreational Therapy program that teaches people of all abilities how to lift and have a great time exercising. During the academic year, the program runs twice a week and has between three to five Madison House volunteers working with seven special athletes at each session. The Gym is a collaborative space, where the volunteers and Jackson work together to support athletes in learning new movements and achieving their fitness aspirations. These close-knit relationships are invaluable, and volunteers carry their experiences with them.

,

Graduating Interns Reflect on Their Time at Madison House

,
Graduating Interns Reflect on Their Time at Madison House

Cattie Li and Caroline Young are marketing and communications interns at Madison House. As their time at UVA comes to a close, they reflect on their work at Madison House the past few years and offer useful words of wisdom to students looking to get the most out of their undergraduate experience.

, ,

Sin Barreras Breaks Down Barriers in the Charlottesville Community

, ,
Sin Barreras Breaks Down Barriers in the Charlottesville Community

“The time we give is so little, but it has such a big impact,” says Sin Barreras Program Director Lily Clausen on her volunteer experience through Madison House. Sin Barreras is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping immigrants and native Spanish speakers in the broader Charlottesville community. The organization provides a variety of services, including advocacy work, social and legal help, and GED classes. Read more to learn about the opportunities Madison House volunteers have with Sin Barreras.

,

National Reading Month: Highlighting Elementary School Tutoring Programs

,

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

, ,
Madison House Volunteers Support Meals on Wheels to Combat Local Food Insecurity

Meals on Wheels is a new program at Madison House this year, started by third-year UVA student Helen Le. Helen has always been passionate about promoting food security and wanted to ensure that Madison House had multiple programs to address the issue…