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."
On Giving Tuesday, millions of people around the world will come together to support causes they care about. As a valued member of our community, we invite you to be part of this global movement by contributing to Madison House. Your generosity will enable us to continue to offer programs that not only address critical community needs, but also foster personal growth and leadership among our student volunteers.
With Halloween in the rear view mirror, the Holiday Sharing program at Madison House is in full swing. Michelle Tran, Head Program Director for Holiday Sharing, sat down with NBC29 on Monday, November 4, during the 4pm newscast to talk about the program and what it has meant to her during her time at UVA.
Madison House is a volunteer organization connecting students from the University of Virginia (UVA) with the surrounding community, plays a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of UVA students and impacting the broader Charlottesville community. Two key voices on its Board of Directors, Suzanne Lynn ‘93 and Neha Pai ‘25, serve as co-chairs of the Board of Directors, bringing a passion for service and commitment to enhancing the organization.
Several programs at Madison House strive to service the large Hispanic community in Charlottesville, a community of around 13,000 residents. Volunteers with programs through Latinx and Migrant Aid (LAMA), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Creating Assets, Savings & Hope (CASH), UVA Health, and the Charlottesville Free Clinic specifically provide Spanish language services. Programs like Multilingual Learning and Thomas Jefferson Adult Career Education provide English language instruction for speakers of Spanish, as well as many other languages.
Mary Denlinger stepped into the role of Executive Director this past June, bringing not only 20+ years of experience, but also a friendly face and passion for service to Madison House. When she’s not in the office or with community partners, Mary can be found trying local restaurants, hiking and camping in the woods, or spending time with family and friends. Now that Mary has been in the position for a few months, already making a lasting impact on students and the organization, we caught up with her for a quick Q&A to learn more about her.
Stacy was introduced to tutoring in high school when she was asked to tutor a younger child. This part-time job quickly morphed into a passion when she arrived at UVA, where she continued tutoring through Madison House programs. At UVA, she was involved in a few different things—she rushed a sorority, worked in hospitality for a student run concert group, and held a part-time job. But volunteering as a tutor through Madison House was her favorite activity. Since graduating, Stacy has nurtured her passion for tutoring and turned it into a tangible and impactful product that makes learning enjoyable. Read more about Stacy's entrepreneurial spirit and her quest to make learning fun for kids.
Thanks to all who joined us at the Fall Service Fair on Monday, August 26. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities across the Animals & Environment, Education & Youth, Health & Medical, and Human Services tracks. If you missed the information sessions, please view the program slides below. When you are ready to apply, follow the “next steps” listed for the program you want to join.
Thank you for helping us make tax season 2024 a success for our Madison House volunteers and the community. As of the end of July, we filed 1,804 returns, which amounts to a total of $1,804,137 in federal refunds and a savings of $451,000 on tax preparation fees. We could not have achieved this impact without your help!
There is an impressive number of current and former Hoos who are Paris-bound for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games! We are especially excited to cheer on Paige Madden, a former Madison House volunteer for Cavs in the Classroom, as she represents Team USA in swimming the 400-meter freestyle, 800-meter freestyle, and 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Paige won a silver medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the Tokyo games in 2020. Go Hoos!
Hot off the t-shirt press! Madison House logo items, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and ball caps are now available through Rivanna Gear & Apparel. John and Susan Turner own this small, local business and are committed to giving back to other local organizations. Read more about the Turners and how your purchase benefits Madison House.
In an era where college students are increasingly focused on academic achievement and career prospects, volunteering with a non-profit organization like Madison House that places students in community service roles offers a unique and invaluable opportunity. This experience goes far beyond simply fulfilling a requirement or padding a resume; it is a transformative journey that builds essential skills, fosters leadership, creates lasting relationships, and encourages ethical engagement with the community. Read on to learn the top 15 benefits of volunteering that students cite most frequently.
As we approach the end of our fiscal year, we at Madison House are reflecting on the incredible impact our volunteers have made. This year, we are particularly proud of our recent graduates and the alumni who joined us for a heartwarming Reunions weekend. Their dedication to public service and community engagement continues to inspire us all.
The Board of Directors of Madison House, the independent volunteer center for students at the University of Virginia, is pleased to announce that Mary Denlinger has been named the organization’s new Executive Director. With a wealth of experience in community engagement and a passion for student development, Mary brings a dynamic vision to further enhance the impact and reach of Madison House within both the University of Virginia and the surrounding community.
The CASH tax preparation assistance program recently wrapped up another successful year. Final numbers are not yet in, but preliminary figures indicate that this year’s CASH program volunteers prepared more than 1,500 returns between February and April 2024. However, the volunteers say there is much more to CASH than the numbers. What they enjoy most is the opportunity to connect with the Charlottesville community. Read more about CASH and the volunteer experience.
The spring 2024 semester introduced a new Community Partner to Madison House: the Emergency Food Network (EFN). Phoebe Zamoff, currently a second-year UVA student, devoted the fall semester to fostering a relationship with the EFN in order to give UVA students an additional opportunity to fight food insecurity in Charlottesville. “I wanted to create a new program at Madison House that was dedicated to fighting food insecurity in Charlottesville,” Phoebe explains. Read more about this new Madison House partnership.
As Head Program Director of the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, Emma has dedicated many hours to getting to know the woman she calls her “adopted grandma”. After discovering that they both had lived in Emma’s hometown in West Virginia, they quickly developed a close relationship. “My favorite part of my week is getting to spend time with her,” says Emma. Read more about Emma’s experience in the Adopt-a-Grandparent program at Madison House.
Flowers are not the only thing springing up as the weather turns warmer! Some seasonal Madison House programs, like Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) Community Gardens Program are picking up again after UVA’s spring break ended in mid-March. The program operates from August to mid-November and is in its sixteenth year of helping local food banks like The Haven, Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, the PVCC Food Pantry, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, the Thomas Jefferson Area Food Bank, and The Salvation Army. Read more about this growing program!
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.
“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.
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.
