Mrs. Florence Riford established the Center more than 35 years ago, and gave the building to San Diego as a senior center. The Friends of the Riford Center, a community-based 501(c)(3) corporation established in 2007, manages the Center under a lease from the City. The organization raises funds through community contributions and member fees to pay expenses of operating the Center. The Friends are also working to build an endowment to sustain the Center long term.
There is no similar facility in the La Jolla area. Churches and retirement living facilities provide services for their members or residents, but the Riford is the only facility that serves the public. The Center focuses on residents in La Jolla west of I-5 and Pacific Beach north of Garnet. Of course, the center welcomes visitors to La Jolla and individuals living anywhere in San Diego.
- James W. Walker, Ph.D., author on aging, work, and retirement (Chairman)
- Glen Rasmussen, attorney (Vice Chairman)
- Lee Vida, MD (Treasurer)
- Taylor Miller, community volunteer (Secretary)
- Sherry Berman Ahern, community leader and owner, Thank-you-plants
- Frances Belliveau, psychoanalyst
- Ellen Jacobs, Ph.D., psychologist
- Brit Kirtland, community volunteer
- Jeff Krumeich, MBA, financial advisor
- Donna Leavenworth, community volunteer
- Barbara Malk, community volunteer
- Executive Director: Ron Jones
- Jean Sachs