Jennifer Ricci

Jennifer’s mother was a profound example of selflessness-when she opened up her home without hesitation to two of her sister’s friends who were facing hardship, one experiencing abuse and the other a teen pregnancy. Her mother’s words resonated strongly when she told the two young girls that they would always have a home with us. Being so very fortunate to grow up in a home filled with love and affection, where kindness and care were second nature. Jennifer was so very blessed to be able to take care of her mother who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010, given 2 weeks to live, she went up to her small home town to care for her mother day and night, until she passed. Those two precious weeks were filled with reading her stories, laughter, playing her favorite music, reminiscing about all of the beautiful memories, doing her hair every day and making her as comfortable as possible. Jennifer felt blessed to have had such a beautiful mother and role model, and that she was able to reciprocate all of the love and caring she learned from her throughout her life, right up until the end.Jennifer grew up in a small town, in Northern Ontario, Canada. She moved to Toronto to attend university and fulfill a business degree, eventually have a beautiful family made the move to California.

After spending years in the corporate world, it was important for Jennifer to make time to give back, to something that she was truly passionate about. Volunteering and working with the elderly is how she chose to give back and make a difference. Visiting them each day, listening to their incredible life experiences, organizing small outings and doing activities with them, she found purpose in preserving their legacies. Every person has a story worth telling, a life that deserves to be celebrated and no one should ever feel forgotten. She deeply believes in honoring those who came before us, keeping them relevant, and ensuring they always feel valued. Her journey is one of compassion, connection and dedication to those who paved the way for us. Jennifer is deeply grateful and profoundly honored to step into the role of Director ofPrograms for the CFB Foundation. With a heartfelt commitment to making a difference, she looks forward to creating meaningful initiatives that enrich the lives of seniors. She is eager to expand the foundations reach, touching as many lives as possible and fostering a community where every senior’s legacy is honored and cherished. Jennifer’s journey of compassion and connection, started at a very young age when in Grade 4 she was chosen by her teacher to assist a special needs student a few times a week. Mary was in Grade 3, diagnosed with autism and over a short period of time together, a special bond was created. It was then, that Jennifer realized that compassion was something that came naturally and was to shape part of the path she would later walk.