The La Jolla Community Center (LJCC) is appealing to the community to help in the storied institution’s continuing transformation into a comprehensive adult facility. “It takes a community to make a community center,” said Sherry Ahern, board mem-ber of LJCC, formerly known as the Riford Center. LJCC board CEO Ruth Yansick agreed — pointing out just how much of the community is already involved. “There’s positive things happening here,” she said. “We’re moving ahead and growing with 500 members and more than 4,000 emails.” Glen Rasmussen, attorney and board president of the nonprofit Friends of the Riford Center, which has been managing the facility under a city lease since its establishment in 2007, said the center has always sought constant improvement, with the latest round of upgrades focusing on efforts to expand services, enticing more community members to take advantage of the center “Our thought was if we made the place nice, comfortable, accessible and attractive, that people will come,” he said. “We’re constantly looking for ways to make this place work and serve the community.” Located at 6811 La Jolla Blvd., the 5,000-square-foot LJCC provides a number of valuable social and recreational services. A membership club geared toward adults, LJCC provides diverse activities from conversational French to Jazzercise sessions to bridge classes. The facility includes several activity rooms, a commercial-size kitchen with catering capability and a fully equipped computer training room. Florence Riford donated the building to San Diego in the 1970s, providing endowment funds to support its operations, which today have largely been exhausted paying for operating expenses. “We need an endowment to help sustain this building into perpetuity,” said Rasmussen, noting that a number of improvements — an ADA-compliant front-entrance ramp, new doors, bench and tile work, courtyard and classroom upgrades, as well as a gourmet kitchen and great-room improvements — are under way. LJCC still needs $250,000 to complete its long-term renovation project, which thus far has been dependent on gifts and grants. The new disabled ramp under construction at the front entrance will be done by early September, said architect Don Hodges, an LJCC board member, and other enhancements — like improved landscaping on the south side of the building reaching around to the front, to include an Eagle Scout project by Matthew Alessio — are planned. Hodges said the center’s doors are always open, though entry is currently at the rear of the building due to ongoing construction in front. “The public is invited,” he said. “We’re open to anyone who wants to participate. Take a look at the website. Come in during the remodel.” La Jolla Community Center is also available to host small- and large-group community meetings in its great room or smaller conference rooms with food catering available from the kitchen, which also offers cooking classes. The center, Rasmussen said, depends on membership and programming revenue to cover operating expenses, and it needs 400 to 600 active members and well-attended programs and classes in order to thrive. Making ends meet, he said, is “a constant battle.” Government grants are improving the facility’s appearance and upgrading services, like the addition of a new large classroom being built with a grant from Las Patronas. “We’ve made the building ADA-compliant with a federal [Community Development Block Grant] from [District 1 City Councilwoman] Sherri Lightner’s office,” Rasmussen said. Yansick said the message is getting out that La Jolla Community Center is something different — and more — than what it’s been in the past. “The name change and our new mission statement has brought a lot of recognition,” she said. “The community is stepping up and reaching out to us. It’s given us an opportunity to clarify who we are and let people know we’re the only adult community center in [ZIP code] 92037. We want to say to the public, this is your community center — help us.” For more information or to volunteer call (858) 459-0831, email [email protected] or visit www.ljcommunitycenter.org.