Senior Community Centers

Our History...A Timeline

• 1970 - Cedar Community Center is established in May as a nutrition site with Sue Hart as Executive Director. Center is dedicated later in the year and offers bridge, handicrafts, movies, games and hot lunches on Thursdays. Agency has one staff member and 4 board members.
• 1973 - Center begins serving lunches five days a week - Monday through Friday for a fee of 50 cents per meal.
• 1975 - Center moves to First Presbyterian Church at 820 Date Street downtown. Outreach, transportation, case management, and referral services are added and meals fee is eliminated. Agency grows to 21 staff, 19 board, and 270 volunteers.
• 1978 - Home Delivered Meals program begins. Church asks agency to find a new kitchen. A total of 68,705 meals are served this year with nearly 2,000 delivered to homebound seniors.
• 1979 - Negotiations begin with San Diego Kind Corporation for space at 9th and Broadway for a larger center.
• 1980 - First Christmas dinner is sponsored by Bud Fisher and Art Bloom at Cedar South, 830 8th Avenue with over 500 seniors served.
• 1982 - Federal funding cuts mean cuts in programs and services and one staff member is laid off.
• 1983 - Name changed to Senior Community Centers of San Diego. Anne Gillespie Brown is named Executive Director.
• 1984 - Fiscal operations are computerized and Home Delivered Meals program expanded with 24,729 meals served.
• 1986 - First annual meeting held at Lyceum Theater with Ernest Hahn as the keynote speaker.
• 1987 - First capital campaign chaired by Ann Parode raised over $200,000 to renovate new flagship senior center at 9th and Broadway. Donor records are computerized.
• 1990 - New Broadway Center is dedicated on May 23 with ribbon cutting by Harley Sefton and Christy Walton. Serving Seniors program begins with Stoorza, Ziegaus & Metzger as the first group.
• 1991 - Serving Seniors program grows to 30 volunteer groups.
• 1992 - Facilities committee begins to look into SRO/housing arena as affordable senior housing options dwindle.
• 1993 - SCENE program (Senior Cultural Enhancement 'N' Education) begins thanks to generous support from arts patron Muriel Gluck.
• 1994 - Jack Borchers is named acting director. SCC clients are found to have the highest rate of malnutrition in the county. Breakfast program begins at Broadway Center to provide assistance to hungry seniors.
• 1995 - Paul Downey is named President and CEO. Linda Vista, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach nutrition sites are transferred to Clairemont Friendship Center (now LiveWell San Diego) to allow SCC to focus on serving urban seniors.
• 1997 - Advisory Council of prominent local leaders is established to increase visibility of organization and support for senior issues. Longtime nutrition director Doris Larson retires and Kitty Roberts, a Registered Dietician is hired as a consultant for the program.
• 1998 - Health Promotion, Harm Reduction program is created, teaming a nurse with a social worker to ensure the health and wellbeing of homebound seniors. Weekend Meals program begins at Broadway. CEO Paul Downey and Pamela Smith of Aging and Independence Services begin a coalition to address homelessness among seniors.
• 1999 - Sharp HealthCare conducts health needs assessment at Broadway Center.
• 2000 - SCC partners with Chelsea Investment Corporation to identify site for affordable housing project. A lot at the corner of 14th and Market downtown is selected for 200 units of housing for low-income seniors.
• 2001 - Sharp Downtown Senior Health Clinic opens a block away from the Broadway Center. The California Endowment funds new Cross Cultural Senior Mental Health Program. Federal tax credits are received to finance the affordable housing project.
• 2002 - Senior Community Centers, along with the County and City of San Diego form the Transitional Housing Program, a partnership providing funding for 20 beds and support services for homeless seniors at a nearby single room occupancy (SRO) hotel.
• 2003 - Market Square Manor, SCC's first affordable, supportive housing project is dedicated. Name is later changed to the Potiker Family Senior Residence to recognize the generous support from Hughes and Sheila Potiker. Transitional Housing Program expands to 35 beds. The California Endowment funds Geriatric Support Services program model.
• 2004 - Food Service department implements the "cook-chill" method of food preparation resulting in increased efficiency and capacity at a reduced cost. Total meals served are 272,336. Two assisted living beds are added to the Transitional Housing Program for homeless seniors needing a higher level of care.
• 2005 - Older Adult Rehabilitation Specialist is added to the Potiker staff to help seniors facing mental health challenges. Food Service hires Danny Jarvis, professional chef and restaurateur as Production Manager to revamp menus and oversee daily meal production which has grown to a total of 291,833 meals served.
• 2006 - Groundbreaking for City Heights Square, SCC's second supportive senior housing project. Served over 300,000 meals for the first time - total meals provided is 318,627.
• 2007 - SCC receives first endowment gift in its history. City Heights Square opens with 150 units of affordable, supportive housing.