Virginia Neal Almand

Virginia Neal Almand has served on The Trust for Public Land’s Georgia Advisory Board for 28 years and participated on key committees such as Engagement and Board Development.  She chaired the office’s first annual fundraiser, “Hot Dogs for Hard Times” and co-chaired the second Celebration of Land, “Pony Up for TPL.”  She was a leader of TPL-Georgia’s BeltLine Bus Tours and has supported the Board Alumni Council activities.

After attending Brooke Hill  School (now Altamont School) in Birmingham, Al, where she was Brooke Hill Girl and President of Student Body, Virginia attended Goucher College and later received an AB in History at Vanderbilt University.  She went on to a career as an Advertising Assistant at Tucker Wayne and later C&S Bank.

Virginia is very active in the community, through her involvement with the Cherokee Garden Club from 1980-present (President 1987-89); the Atlanta Speech School Board of Directors 1986 to present (Chairman of Board (2006-08), President of Guild 1981-82, Honorary Chair of Gala (2008); St. Luke’s Park Board (Chair) and Beautification Committee for many years; Camp Merrie-Woode Board of Directors (1980-86); Skyland Trail Mental Health Facility for Adults; Volunteer in Horticulture (2000 to 2012); Garden Club of America, Approved Horticulture Judge (1991-2020), Zone Chairman (1990-91), Zone Representative to Horticulture, Judging Nominating and Admissions Committees, Director on Board for Zone VIII (2000-01); Cherokee Garden Library Board (having served 3 terms); Trust for Public Land (Chairman of first two Celebrations of Land), Beltline Tour Guide for several years, Member of Board (2002-06, 2007-13, 2014-20); Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Directors (2005-09), Nineteenth Century History Class 2002-Present (President 2011-13); Southeastern Horticultural Society Board of Directors (2009-12) and the Marcus Autism Center Advisory Board (2012-14).

Virginia lives in Buckhead with her husband Bond and has one daughter, one son and five grandchildren. She has a strong love of the outdoors, gardening and of her home on Big Ridge mountain in North Carolina.  Other interests are reading, sewing and knitting and travel