Louise Riggio heads The Riggio Foundation, which she established with her late husband, Len Riggio, founder and Chairman of Barnes & Noble Booksellers. She currently serves as President of the Board and Executive Director of The Equestrian Aid Foundation and is actively involved with the environmental nonprofit Green Is the New Blue.

Committed to social justice and education, Louise and Len worked closely with the Children’s Defense Fund, building both the library, dedicated to Maya Angelou and John Hope Franklin, and the Riggio Chapel at the Haley Farm Freedom School in Tennessee—spaces dedicated to the study of equality and justice. As patrons of the arts, they also helped create Dia Beacon, home to The Riggio Galleries. Riggio played a pivotal role in arts education there, spearheading the establishment of the Learning Lab. She also served on the board of The Dia Art Foundation.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the Riggio’s founded Project Home Again, an initiative that used local architects, builders, and tradespeople to construct and donate 101 homes to families who had lost everything in the storm.

A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Riggio has been deeply involved in the protection and retraining of off-the-track thoroughbreds. She serves on the board of Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center and was instrumental in establishing the Omega Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, helping to save many horses from slaughter.

Additionally, Riggio has served on the boards of several other New York-based nonprofits, including The Children’s Museum of Manhattan and The Advisory Board for St. Vincent’s Hospital. She was also President of The Auxiliary of St. Vincent’s Hospital for two years.

Riggio joined the AEFF board after her travels to Africa sparked a passion for wildlife conservation and using film to educate and improve the lives of the region’s people.