24 Years of Planting Change

Parks for All

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Parks for All

As part of the BHC campaign, community resident leadership leverages hundreds of millions for park investments in areas of Fresno where access was limited or absent.

Parks for All

BHC sites offer ground-breaking case examples of how community organizing can not only promote environmental justice and yield improvements in water access and quality, it can also increase equitable development of parks and recreation and active transportation infrastructure.

Some of the wins championed by BHC participants during the initiative:

  • Santa Ana (2012): $380k Pacific Electric Exercise Park opened in Santa Ana’s Madison Park neighborhood, funded by federal trail enhancement funds.
  • City Heights (2016): A $1M canyon restoration project in Manzanita Canyon promoted healthy behaviors and access to outdoor open green space for young people of color and their families in City Heights.
  • Eastern Coachella Valley (2018): Community of North Shore held its grand opening of a five-acre park, the culmination of a six-year community-led design process in partnership with BHC partners and Desert Recreation District.
  • Statewide (2018): Voters passed prop 68 (Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018) by 57.8%, which provided $4.1B in bonds for state and local parks, environmental protection and restoration projects, water infrastructure projects, and flood protection projects.
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  • Hundreds of Millions

    Leveraged for Parks Investments in CA

“The central path to the Beloved Community is through community voice and community power.”

DR. ROBERT K. ROSS President & CEO, The California Endowment
  • Parks for All
  • Parks for All
  • Parks for All
  • Parks for All
  • Parks for All

Browse Other Changes Planted by Dr. Ross

Building Healthy Communities

Building Healthy Communities $1B invested over 10 years

Health4All

Health4All 38.6 million lives impacted

Youth Awards

Youth Awards 37 total awards given

Schools Not Prisons

Schools Not Prisons & BMOC Millions reached since 2016

Farmworker Health

Farmworker Health $50M initiative

TCE Grant Making 2023

TCE Grant Making 2023 $381M awarded

Youth on the Board

Youth on the Board 1st of large foundations in US to have youth on the board

Childhood Obesity Freshworks

Childhood Obesity & Freshworks $272M to expand access to fresh and healthy foods in low-income communities

CHIS

CHIS 20,000 households interviewed annually to find health gaps in CA

Kids Health Coverage Campaign

Kids Health Coverage Campaign $4M to help enroll children in health programs

Cultural Competency

Cultural Competency/Health Workforce/PRIME $78.2M to CA organizations working to boost the size and diversity of the state's healthcare workforce

TCE Headquarters

TCE Headquarters 125,000+ use our facilities every year

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Wishing Wall

Dr. Ross,
Best wishes on your journey. Thank you for everything!
-SAJE

Dr. Ross,
I love you!! Thank you for being a servant to the people. Lives are better because you came into the world.

With deepest gratitude for all of your service, your love, & leadership. May you have abundant joy and connection and all good things.
- Sharon

Dang Bob! You really leaving? You really reading all this good stuff?! Ok man! Among so many of the things I already said, you baaaad, Dude. Much love!

Dear Bob,
Well done, good and faithful servant! Remember: you don’t get to retire from Saint Marks - ever.
- Carri

Dr. Ross -
Thank you for all you’ve done for the community and have an amazing retirement!

Rosetta Henderson Bloom again

Dr. Ross,
Wishing you all of the joy and relaxation you well deserve. Thank you for everything!
- Alyric Bell (UNITE-LA)

Dr. Ross,
Deep gratitude for your leadership and commitment to equity and justice.

Dr. Ross! Congrats on your transition. I am grateful for the opportunity to have grown up with your support. You inspired me to chase my dreams.
- Corleone (BMoC)

Dear Dr. Ross,
We wish you the best in retirement although we know you will stay busy take time to enjoy family.
- From the Avilas

Dear Bob,
Thank you for your incredible and bold leadership for equity and justice! It has catalyzed so much and the ripple effects will be felt for longer than you can imagine. Thanks also for being a personal inspiration to me and our organization’s work. We’ll all try to carry on the pathway you forged. Best wishes in all your next endeavors.
Yours,
- Alex Rossides

Bob -
It’s been an honor to work with you through the years. Love you very much!

Dr. Ross,
Wishing you a magical abundant retirement.
- Nikki

Bob,
We wish you good health, adventure, and lots of love in your life’s journey.
- Julie & Pete Brown

Enjoy & have fun. God bless you!
- Elizabeth Tabita

Wishing you an abundance of love, harmony, health, and happiness.

Dearest Dr. Ross,
May you be happy in the next phase of your life.
- Susan

Dr. Bob -
Enjoy this next chapter in your life. I wish you joy!
- Jim Crouch

Dr. Ross
Thanks for your years of unwavering leadership. We are better for all your efforts.
- Craig Martinez

Unveiling Our
2025 Annual
Report

The California Endowment is proud to present our 2025 annual report. Read about the work we are supporting and our partners who are changing California to a state of belonging and inclusion.

View Report
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