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.
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
Browse Other Changes Planted by Dr. Ross
Building Healthy Communities $1B invested over 10 years
Health4All 38.6 million lives impacted
Youth Awards 37 total awards given
Schools Not Prisons & BMOC Millions reached since 2016
Farmworker Health $50M initiative
TCE Grant Making 2023 $381M awarded
Youth on the Board 1st of large foundations in US to have youth on the board
Childhood Obesity & Freshworks $272M to expand access to fresh and healthy foods in low-income communities
CHIS 20,000 households interviewed annually to find health gaps in CA
Kids Health Coverage Campaign $4M to help enroll children in health programs
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 125,000+ use our facilities every year
Wishing Wall
Dr. Ross,
Thank you for all that you have done to advance justice and equity in our communities.
Dr. Ross,
Well wishes on this next adventure! Enjoy this time!
- Stephanie Ghayouri
With deepest gratitude for all of your service, your love, & leadership. May you have abundant joy and connection and all good things.
- Sharon
Bob,
Don’t be a stranger.
Love you,
- Ray
Love you my brother! My homeboy. Wish you all the joy & happiness.
- Hector V. (Homeboy Industries)
All the best to the world’s greatest boss & mentor. Thank you for your leadership, advice, and support these last 16 years!
- Dan DeLeon
Dr. Ross -
Wishing you abundance in this next chapter! Thank you for your infinite sacrifices for justice.
- Sonya Diaz
Best wishes for the next act!
- Joel
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 -
“Dr. Ross” - thank you for your leadership, support, and contributions towards health equity and health justice.
With gratitude,
- Ignatius Bau
Your words at the Liberty Hill dinner always stuck with me and I continue to share the message today.
Thank you,
- Darryl
Dearest Bob,
I will forever appreciate how you have welcomed and vouched for me in philanthropy. And there’s still time for you to get us that $5mil!
- Shane
Dear Bob,
I have learned and grown so much during my time at TCE and with you. Thank you for everything.
- Karthik
Happiest wishes for a joyous and peaceful retirement after an amazing and productive career! Come back to visit TCE!
- Diana Yang
Thank you for your guidance and leadership!
Dr. Ross,
Thank you very much for all your efforts. You’ve planted many seeds and tended greatly to your community. I’m immensely grateful for your work. Take a moment to appreciate yourself. Thank you!
Best wishes!
I wish you all the best. Hopefully I will see you around the bowl more!
- Virginia Mosqueda
Thank you for all your support for the ACA, #Health4All, and everything else.
Dr. Ross,
You instilled so much confidence in me by choosing me to be on the board. You truly have no idea about the trajectory my life will go on. Thank you immensely and I wish you all the best.
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