Tom Riccard is the CEO of Modern Finance, a family-owned auto finance company. With over 40 years of professional experience in the finance world, he is the Board President of Heart of Los Angeles and oversees the governance of the non-profit organization, allowing HOLA to continue its important work in providing holistic programming to underserved youth in our community.
Tom and his wife Dana are longtime HOLA volunteers, beginning with Dana volunteering as a SmartStart Tutor in the program’s infancy and expanding to Tom and Dana both serving as mentors for more than a dozen high school seniors applying to college. Tom solidified his commitment to HOLA by joining the Board of Directors and has served as a member of the finance and executive committees before becoming the current Board President.
In addition to his time spent with the students and steering HOLA diligently as a Board Member, Tom and Dana have been major donors, providing crucial financial support in building out the Orchestra, Visual Arts, and Athletics programs such as: a summer swim program for HOLA students, the creation of an art studio in a former storefront bar, and the soundproofing of classrooms for the YOLA music program. Most recently, the Riccards provided the lead gift to construct our new HOLA building in Lafayette Park.
In continuing their support of their communities, the Riccards created two endowments for students at the College of William and Mary. Tom served on the board of the Santa Clarita Child and Family Development Center, which provides mental health care for low income students. He is a current member of the California Financial Services Association, a non-profit trade association representing major national and international corporations and independent lenders with operations in the State of California. Tom actively serves the LA Chapter of The Lone Warrior Foundation which helps build support and a community for single parents fighting cancer. As an avid marathoner, Tom mentored many aspiring marathoners as a volunteer with the LA Leggers running club. Tom is a deacon as well as former finance and operations chair of Bel Air Church which he has been a member of for over 40 years. He was the recent co-chair of a successful $14m capital campaign for preschool and campus renovations.
When not volunteering or working to make the world a better place, Tom and Dana can often be found spending time with their 5 grandchildren who reside in the Washington DC area.