Taking a Focused Approach to Giving
Spider couple helps students succeed with new annual scholarship
Cesar Madarang, B’87, and Elizabeth “Beth” Hallman Madarang, B’88, found their passions at the University of Richmond. They also found each other.
Cesar was leading a textbook co-op hosted by the Richmond College Student Government Association when he met Beth. “It was a small book exchange so students could get their money back at the end of the semester,” he said. “One of my favorite clients was Beth – she kept coming back and forth. I thought, ‘wow, there’s someone who is very interested in what I’m doing.’ But it turns out she was just trying to save money [laughs]."
A business administration major, Cesar quickly discovered an interest in finance, which led him to pursue a career in investments and wealth management. Today, he works for Vanguard as a relationship executive for high net-worth clients and their families.
Beth was also a business administration major and worked in retail bank management for a few years before transitioning to a career in education. She is now an elementary literacy specialist and educational consultant.
The Madarangs were longtime annual supporters of the Robins School of Business when they were inspired to give to the UR Well-Being Initiative.
“Our family’s well-being was impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and brought the importance of mental health to the forefront of our lives,” Cesar said. “We supported well-being at UR because all people should feel good about themselves so they can reach their full potential.”
The couple felt compelled to make a more significant impact, so last year, they established the Madarang Family Scholarship to provide financial aid to deserving undergraduate students.
“We had been giving to UR sporadically, and though we aren't making huge donations, we wanted to direct our giving to one priority area,” Beth said. “We decided that supporting accessibility and affordability would be the best fit for us because we want to give students the extra boost they need to pursue a Richmond education and be successful.”
“In finance, you learn about the compounding effect,” Cesar said. “No matter the amount, your giving will compound significantly over time if used correctly. We love knowing that our support can have a tremendous impact on Richmond’s future.”
The Madarangs are proud members of Lake Circle at the University of Richmond. Learn more about UR’s donor recognition groups.