Volunteer Stories

MADISON HOUSE VOLUNTEERS GO BIG ON SATURDAY

MADISON HOUSE VOLUNTEERS GO BIG ON SATURDAY

More than 200 volunteers spent the day working at one of 29 job sites as part of the fifth annual BIG Event, a one-day event sponsored by Madison House, the independent, nonprofit UVA student volunteer center.

Although University students regularly spend time on community service throughout the year, working through Madison House and other programs, the annual event brings out a concentrated group effort every spring. Started in 2015, it’s one day when students come together to express their gratitude for the surrounding community and its ongoing support.

Outgoing Student Council president reflects on initiatives to support marginalized communities

Outgoing Student Council president reflects on initiatives to support marginalized communities

Fourth-year College student Alex Cintron is the first Latinx Student Council president in the University’s history.

As the first Latinx Student Council president in the University’s history Cintron said that, while he felt uncomfortable in some environments which the position required him to engage with, his perspective empowered him to act differently than previous Student Council presidents.

“This is my form of resisting what has been the normal narrative for Student Council president,” Cintron said.

Harmonies for Healing brightens up hospital life through music

Harmonies for Healing brightens up hospital life through music

Influential Madison House program allows volunteer musicians to play for patients during long hospital stays.

When fourth-year College student Grant Frazier decided to combine his passions of music and medicine, he began working with Madison House to bring music into the hospital setting. This idea led to the creation of Harmonies for Healing, a program which sends three student musicians to the University’s Transitional Care Hospital each day with hopes of improving the lives of both patients and medical staff.