The California Endowment's mission is to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians.

TCE is the funding agency for HEAC, with six sites across California.

HEAC seeks to demonstrate that by transforming the food and physical activity environments of resource-poor, low-income income communities it is possible to change norms that foster unhealthy food choices and inactivity.

TCE’S vision for a healthy California involves more than the absence of disease:

• It is a state where community members and policymakers work together to improve health and health care.
• There is respect for the experience and knowledge of the people who are the most directly affected by health disparities.
• It is a state where all Californians have a strong sense of self-worth + practice healthy lifestyles.
• Diversity is a source of strength for communities.
• Health problems are addressed promptly + effectively to minimize their consequences.
• Prevention is a shared agenda.
• Partnership is the norm.

An important factor in TCE’s work as a change agent is vigorous "grassroots-to-treetops" advocacy + mobilization.

We actively promote and support an array of local grassroots coalitions, which are deeply rooted in communities and know best the conditions that need to change, as well as statewide and, in some cases, national organizations. Together, these individuals, organizations and coalitions act to influence health decision makers and shape policies and systems at all levels so that they reflect ideas that emerge from the grassroots and work for everyone.