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’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.
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.”
For many UVA students, Madison House is a place to give back to the Charlottesville community—whether it’s mentoring kids, working in local clinics, or helping at food pantries and community gardens. But for a few lucky Hoos, service was a shared passion with their soulmate! This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate three UVA alumni couples who volunteered at Madison House during their undergraduate years.
“We were really special and got a lot of attention, and we felt a responsibility to do something special,” explains Dr. Deborah Denno, reflecting on her experience as a member of UVA's first co-ed undergraduate class in 1974. The year 1970 was groundbreaking, marking the first time women were admitted to UVA’s undergraduate program. Now, in 2024, the 50th anniversary of that historic graduating class is being celebrated. Reflecting back on their time at UVA, alumnae Katherine Taylor, Karen Montgomery, and Connie Laudenschlager reminisce fondly how Madison House shaped their college experiences. Read more…
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.
