The Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM) successfully completed its 2026 Backpack & School Supply Drive, held from June 10 through June 24, in partnership with Backpacks 4 Kids AZ. The initiative, led by AACM's Outreach Committee chaired by Tom Emele, aimed to support Arizona students as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
"Our children are the future. We all need to properly equip them on their education journey. This opportunity partnering with Backpacks 4 Kids AZ is a perfect way to support our children," said Tom Emele, Chair of the AACM Outreach Committee. The drive collected backpacks and essential school supplies for Backpacks 4 Kids AZ, a local nonprofit that provides school supplies to children and families experiencing financial hardship.
To facilitate donations, collection sites were hosted by AACM and participating member management companies at locations throughout the Valley. This made donating convenient for AACM members and contributed to the drive's overall success. AACM expressed sincere appreciation to every participating organization for its partnership and commitment to giving back to the community.
Following the drive's conclusion, members of the AACM Outreach Committee volunteered on June 26 at the AACM office to sort and organize the donated supplies before delivery. The committee organized the donations to maximize storage space at Backpacks 4 Kids AZ and streamline distribution for the nonprofit's volunteers.
The donations were delivered to Backpacks 4 Kids AZ on June 30 and will be distributed to local students and families in time for the new school year. "Every child deserves to walk into their classroom on the first day of school feeling prepared and confident. In Phoenix, thousands of students lack the basic supplies needed to succeed. Backpacks 4 Kids AZ helps roughly 3,000 students with backpacks and school supplies annually, and we support over 400 families with food each week. We are incredibly grateful for the support of organizations like AACM, which allow us to continue providing for these children," said Michele Tallberg, Director for Backpacks 4 Kids AZ.
The AACM extends gratitude to every volunteer, donor, collection site, committee member, and participating company whose support made this year's outreach effort possible. This initiative reflects the community association industry's ongoing commitment to strengthening the communities it serves. For more information about AACM and its outreach efforts, visit AACM Online. To learn more about Backpacks 4 Kids AZ, visit Backpacks 4 Kids AZ.
