2019 Leadership in Aging Honoree: Virginia Ali

Virginia Ali grew up on a farm in rural Virginia and moved to Washington looking for new opportunities. In 1958 Ben and Virginia Ali opened Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street in Washington, DC.The restaurant has been a landmark and oasis through all of the changes in the U Street neighborhood and the greater Washington community. Virginia and her late husband Ben Ali were among the first inductees to the Washington, DC Hall of Fame.  In 2011 the Ben’s Chili Bowl Foundation was formed to give back to the communities in which Ben’s operates. In 2018, Mrs. Ali was named to Washington Business Journal’s, Women Who Mean Business. At age 85 Virginia Ali can be found working at the U Street location most days - greeting customers and keeping tabs on the business. Seabury is proud to honor Mrs. Ali’s leadership as a member of the business community, and the longstanding commitment she and her family have made to ensure that all are welcome and have a place to gather and be heard in the Washington, D.C. region.