Volunteer Stories

How This First-Gen Student Made UVA Her Own and Plans to Bring Others After Her

How This First-Gen Student Made UVA Her Own and Plans to Bring Others After Her

[During Alita’s] first semester, she ventured to Madison House, the independent, nonprofit volunteer center for UVA students.

“When I found Rise Together [through Madison House], I felt like their initiative, and just talking about my experiences and topics like bullying, was important to [the students],” she said. “I thought it was a really great initiative that I was glad to be a part of.”

Lacrosse Injury Opened World Of Possibility For This Batten Student

Lacrosse Injury Opened World Of Possibility For This Batten Student

Last spring, through Madison House, the independent, nonprofit volunteer center for UVA students, Duckett volunteered for a program called Creating Assets, Savings and Hope, or CASH, which helps people file their taxes.

“That was by far one of my favorite memories of UVA,” Duckett said. “It’s something I think a lot of us take for granted.

“There were clients we had who were refugees from Afghanistan and didn’t speak English. Being able to help someone and seeing people’s faces when they got a refund was amazing… For a lot of people, an extra $1,000 may go toward a new TV, but for our clients $1,000 was more of a lifeline.”

Baseball Player Reached For A Challenge, And Then Met It

Baseball Player Reached For A Challenge, And Then Met It

Harrington found many ways to contribute – to the University and the community beyond baseball. He got involved with an organization called Team IMPACT, which connects seriously ill children with collegiate athletic teams. He also volunteers at Madison House, and with several other student volunteer organizations.

“We have this great platform as student-athletes,” he said. “We have an opportunity and a responsibility to be good role models for kids and society generally. And it’s fun, being with a great group of guys doing something of benefit to others.”