Mission, Vision, Values

Our Mission

Health is a fundamental human right. Empire Health Foundation boldly advances health equity in the Inland Northwest. In collaboration, we pursue innovative solutions and transform systems to improve health and quality of life.

Our Vision

We imagine an Inland Northwest where everyone determines their own paths to healthy, thriving lives, no matter who we are, where we live, or how much money we make. It is a community that embraces many cultures, identities, and beliefs—connected to one another and nurtured by the natural beauty surrounding us.

Our Values

Community

We start with community voice, knowledge, and experience in all of our actions. We prioritize deep relationships with our vibrant communities confronting systems of poverty and racism.

Integrity

We are responsible for our actions, words, and mistakes.

Trust

We believe trust is earned and nurtured with transparency, honesty, and gratitude.

Compassion

We value every person in our region, and respect our different lived experiences, cultural identities, and hopes for the future.

Unconditional Love

We believe in love as a radical power for people and communities to thrive.

Health Equity Defined

We believe health is a fundamental human right. We also believe statements about health equity must be paired with real, honest, concrete actions that demonstrate how we live out our commitment to these statements.

EHF embraces a definition of health equity adapted from work by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation:

Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care. Our commitment to health equity requires us to recognize the specific histories, cultures, and circumstances of the communities we serve, and to engage the strength, supports, and successes that exist within each of those communities.