Each week over 3,300 University of Virginia students volunteer their time and energy to better the community and themselves. Volunteers serve as tutors, construction workers, day care supporters, patient service representatives, role models, and peer counselors.

The 110,000 hours of donated service is valued at over 2.2 million dollars. This stunning task is accomplished with the assistance of only six paid staff members. Each program has student directors that work five to ten hours every week to organize their programs and train and coordinate their volunteers to ensure that Madison House continues to provide valuable service to the community.

Direct communication with the community members is also a key element to Madison House's success. Community members and professionals work with the student leaders to define goals and objectives, to develop training materials, and to assist in the overall operation of the work. Their combined impact is astonishing.

As much as the volunteers change the lives around them, they themselves are changed. Students tell over and over again how their volunteer experience has altered their lives. Through their work they expand their intellectual and emotional boundaries by looking beyond the walls of the academical village. Students are able to learn more about themselves and their place in life by forming relationships with not only the youth and elders of the community, but with people from other cultures, races, economic backgrounds, and with people with physical and mental challenges as well.