Youth Awards
Envisioned as a celebration of youth and youth power, the TCE Youth Awards celebrates young people transforming their environments through love, data, and voice.
The Youth Awards honor youth who…
- Engage civically, volunteer locally, advocate for important causes, or encourage engagement among their peers.
- Take brave action when faced with deep-rooted systemic barriers and injustice.
- Have shown up in their community as agents of change.
- Will continue to evolve as leaders in the years ahead.
- Have made a positive impact on their community at large.
These California youth inspire their peers and communities while embodying the values of The California Endowment.
The awards are given in recognition of young leaders whose actions impact public policies, create innovative models of service, strengthen local institutions, and cultivate youth power.
Across the state, young people are leading from the frontlines, taking action, and advancing conversations to create lasting change that will lead to a more equitable and healthy future. The Youth Awards, created in 2018, recognize and celebrate the young changemakers and youth-allied organizations that have made a tremendous impact on improving the health of their communities and across California.
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12
Awarded in the North Region -
6
Awarded in the Central Region -
11
Awarded in the Los Angeles Region -
8
Awarded in the South Region
“When you provide young people with a little mentoring support, little bit of resources, someone looking them in the eye and letting them know 'I believe in you', these young people can really take things a long, long way.”
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
Schools Not Prisons & BMOC Millions reached since 2016
Farmworker Health $50M initiative
TCE Grant Making 2023 $381M awarded
Parks for All Hundreds of millions leveraged for parks investments in CA
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,
Best wishes on your journey. Thank you for everything!
-SAJE
Love you, Bob! Keep killing the game!
Thank you for believing in us and the opportunities your faith in us have afforded so many. We wish tenfold those blessings on you.
- Alf LaMont
Thank you for seeding so much change in the world, Dr. Ross!
Dr. Ross,
Thank you for all that you have done to advance justice and equity in our communities.
Thank you, Dr. Ross, for all the love you have given to this world. You have paved the way to continue making change.
- Veronica
Thank you for being a mentor and inspiration. You have truly made a difference in California and the world.
Bob -
I love you and always will. Now come and join my board!
- Kim Lewis
Dr. Ross,
I hope this next chapter fills you up as you get to witness the work and people you have nurtured for all these years.
Dr. Ross -
Thank you for all you’ve done for the community and have an amazing retirement!
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!
Thank you for all the great work bringing health and wellness to California.
- Alan Pullman
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
You are a big inspiration for this world! Thank you!
Blessings upon blessings! Looking forward to all your journey takes you!
Thanks for everything!!! Best of luck!
Dearest Bob,
Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime to work with you! An honor and a privilege.
Love always.
Dearest Dr. Ross,
May you be happy in the next phase of your life.
- Susan
Thank you for all your support for the ACA, #Health4All, and everything else.
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