COSTA MESA : New Director Starts at Free Senior Center

Laurie Gray-Smith has started work as the new director of the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

Smith-Gray said one of her priorities will be to help build a $4-million endowment for the nonprofit center--one of only two senior centers in the county that are not city-operated.

The senior center in Orange is also run by a nonprofit group.

Smith-Gray, a county resident since 1978, most recently worked for more than two years as the director of senior programs for the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County. The program places 1,500 seniors in volunteer positions at more than 200 agencies around the county.

“I have 150 of my volunteers here, so I’m still home,” Smith-Gray said on her first day at the senior center.

Smith-Gray said the center has a $450,000 yearly operating budget.

The center gets 45% of its annual budget from the city and is working toward becoming financially independent from the city within four years, said Susan McLoughlin, the former director.

McLoughlin said she resigned to spend more time with her child and husband and will stay on for a few weeks to help the new director.

Smith-Gray said she had a lot of fund-raising experience while working as director of the Assessment and Treatment Services Center, a Santa Ana Heights counseling center for juveniles. She was director for four years, she said.

About 250 seniors use the center each day, Smith-Gray said. She said about 16,000 seniors live in Costa Mesa.

The free senior center, which offers a variety of programs and classes, is open to people age 50 and older. It is at 695 W. 19th St.