The History of the Greater Rappahannock Area Ladies League
Mission Statement: Members of the Greater Rappahannock Area Ladies League (GRALL) are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other person of African Ancestry within our community. Our service area includes the Historic City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline. The Greater Rappahannock Area Ladies League (GRALL) was formally established and organized in 1999 by Sandra Evans Holland King, who served as president of the interest group from 1999-2009. The goal was to serve the community in a tangible way by promoting philanthropic and charitable activities that had a profound impact on the residents of the Fredericksburg Region. The initial organization had thirty-seven members, including the following current members: Sandra Evans Holland King, Penny Juggins Hairston, Mia Newell Valentine, Melany Pollock and Jacinta Topps, MD.
Early on, the leaders of the Greater Rappahannock Area Ladies League aligned their philanthropy with the mission of The Links, Incorporated. GRALL has supported, volunteered and raised funds for the Topsy Foundation of South Africa, Kids in Distressed Situations (KIDS) Charity where school supplies and hygiene products were donated to Haiti, the American Cancer Society~ Relay for Life, the American Heart Association~ Go Red For Women campaign, Disabled American Veterans and local charitable missions to include the bi-annual Harambee 360 Black Arts Festival, the annual Barbara Hicks Geslock Women’s Forum, children’s hospitals, senior citizen facilities and the Fredericksburg Hope House ~a transitional housing for homeless women and children and many other worthy causes. An annual tea at the Jefferson Hotel and at the Ritz Carlton was a signature social event as well as the annual Hope House Festival of Trees Silent Auction. Throughout the years, GRALL has worked diligently to volunteer and promote literacy in elementary schools by donating an African-American themed book to each of the forty (40) area elementary school libraries. Members have volunteered by visiting and reading the donated books to the students. Some of the books have included Henry’s Freedom Box, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Barack Obama: Son of Promise Child of Hope and The Listeners. Under the leadership of President Stephanie Drummond (2009-2012), the Greater Rappahannock Area Ladies League organized and planned our signature fundraiser ~the annual “Hit the Links” Charity Golf Tournament. It is the largest African American female sponsored tournament in our region. To date, five tournaments have taken place raising over $50,000 with annual scholarships given to area high school students.
The ladies of GRALL are friends who come from all walks of life and are united by an interest in youth and education, national and civic affairs, international perspectives and leadership development. ~continue