University of Virginia employees can once again show their community how much they care by joining area volunteers from local businesses and organizations for the 15th annual United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring on Sept. 20. This team effort serves the community in meaningful ways on a wide variety of projects at local nonprofit organizations and public schools — from clerical assistance, to working with children and seniors, to painting, landscaping and construction. Last year, more than 690 of nearly 2,000 volunteers were U.Va. employees who worked at 86 out of 200 project sites in the Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson communities. Full story.

Whether you like to swim or play tennis, the University of Virginia’s Intramural-Recreational Sports department offers something for everyone. Ranked the hottest school in the country for fitness for 2005 because 94 percent of its undergraduates engage in some type of physical activity, U.Va. offers a variety of fitness facilities, both indoor and outdoor — including Madison Bowl (above) — to its students, as well as faculty and staff. Mad Bowl is currently undergoing a facelift which includes a new surface, new drainage and irrigation systems for the field and a layer of fresh sod seeded with Bermuda grass. When it reopens in August, the field will continue to be used seven days a week for club sports, social functions and special events. Full story.

Inside UVA