University alumnus Paul Tudor Jones II, class of 1976, praised the high level of University student volunteerism in a speech before an audience of over 100 Madison House program directors last night as a part of a special visit to Grounds.
Madison House invited Jones, who flew in specifically for the evening's dinner and speech, to return to the University over a year ago. Jones recently donated $35 million to fund building of the new University basketball arena to be named after his father, John Paul Jones.
"We wanted there to be an opportunity for Mr. Jones to hear about Madison House today," said Elizabeth Bass, associate director for programs at Madison House. "We were excited to meet him and we are proud of Madison House."
Jones, who majored in Economics, volunteered at Madison House for a year during his undergraduate career as a Big Brother before heading to Wall Street. Jones returned to the University to inspire and praise current Madison House volunteers.
Jones said he was highly impressed by current student volunteer involvement, which far exceeds the proportion of student volunteerism when he attended the University.
He reminisced about his days as a volunteer when Madison House claimed only 600 student volunteers. Today, 3,000 University students volunteer with Madison House.
"I am not worthy," Jones said. "My generation was caught up in the MTV world before it was created. Today we are in an MTV world but you all have a PBS state of mind."
Jones also said while his parents instilled a sense of charity and volunteerism in him as a youngster, he wished he had done more volunteering during his time at the University.
"Hearing him talk made me want to stop wasting time and start to put more energy towards helping people out," Boosters Program Director Margaret Grundy said.
Jones founded Tudor Investment Corporation, as well as the Robin Hood Foundation and the I Have a Dream program in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in New York City.
Jones shared his journey of dedicating himself to solving problems associated with poverty in New York City. He cited the stock market crash of 1987 as his motivation for establishing the Robin Hood Foundation.
"I was despondent," Jones said, referring to the crash. "I thought it was the beginning of the worst depression since 1929."
Although Jones acknowledged that his economic prediction was off, the Robin Hood Foundation since has put forth $300 million dollars to solving poverty problems in New York City.
However, Jones' volunteer efforts did not go without obstacles and setbacks. "It is impossible to go out and fight poverty without failure," Jones said. "It is just too big of an enemy."
Both Jones and Madison House leaders and board members expressed pride and admiration for the organization and individual volunteers.
"I think Madison House is one of the most important things U.Va. has to offer students and the community," Board Member Betsy Respess said. "It is so impressive that students are willing to give so much time and effort to the community."
In addition to his speech, Jones took a tour of the Madison House facility, met the staff and had dinner with the 16 student program directors and board members in the Madison House team room as part of his visit to Grounds.
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