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. We believe that this type of service is an exciting way to forge lasting partnerships between students, universities, and local communities. After reading this guide, we hope that you will agree with us and work to share the power of volunteerism. Madison House would like to extend special thanks to the William H. Donner Foundation of New York, New York for the grant which funded publication of the book. .