Virginia Chase Ralls

                     A dream became reality when Virginia was accepted into the School of Law at Drexel University. While there she excelled in classes, and enjoyed being a part of many different organizations. Virginia was a member of the Veterans Law Society, Family Law Society, and International Law Society.  She was a mentor to younger law school students through the First Year Mentor Program. In her last year she was asked to be a Teaching Assistant for the Family Law class that she excelled in the previous year.

            While in Philadelphia, completed over 100 hours of pro bono during her law school career with the SeniorLAW center that supports seniors in the state of Pennsylvania and the Marshall Brennan Project which teaches Constitutional Law to underprivileged high schools in the Philadelphia area. All law school students are required to perform a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service to graduate, but Virginia went above and beyond that requirement. Virginia significantly exceeded the 50-hour requirement and received a Pro Bono Recognition Award and was specially acknowledged in the graduation for her service to the community.

             Virginia finished her last semester of law and moved from Philadelphia to Florida while her husband served overseas on a year-long deployment in the Middle East. Both of Virginia’s grandfather’s served in the military, along with countless cousins and family members. Virginia has strong ties to the military and military families hold a special place in her heart. She is currently using her skills to start an annual fundraiser for military families and veterans.

              Virginia served on the Children’s Home Society special events committee before leaving for Philadelphia.  Now that she has returned, she plans to get involved again with the annual Children's Home Society of Florida "Soundside Splendor”  on Pensacola Beach. Each year through the generous help of our sponsors and guests, hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised to help stop child abuse in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. These funds help local children grow up protected, healthy and prepared for life.  Virginia’s expertise and event planning experience coupled with her contacts within the event business in the local area help secure low costs and services to increase the amount raised for the children.

            Virginia participates with a local, family owned car dealership in the Pensacola Dragonboat Race and Festival. This race and festival works to benefit Gulf Coast Kids’ House.  GCKH is a children’s advocacy center serving Pensacola and Escambia County and combines all of the professionals and resources needed for the intervention, investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases under one child-friendly facility. Child victims and their families also receive mental health counseling at our center. The proceeds from our events go directly to building and maintaining the programs and services these organizations provide to the community. 

Virginia was awarded the University of Florida Oustanding Young Alumna Award in 2018 and Top 40 Young Lawer for the State of Florida from teh National Alliance of Women in Law in 2019.