The Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM), through its Outreach Committee chaired by Tom Emele, successfully completed its 2026 Backpack & School Supply Drive to support Arizona students as they prepare for the upcoming school year. The drive was held from June 10 through June 24, 2026, collecting backpacks and essential school supplies for Backpacks 4 Kids AZ, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing school supplies to children and families experiencing financial hardship.
Tom Emele, Chair of the AACM Outreach Committee, emphasized the importance of the initiative: "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."
To make donating convenient for AACM members throughout the Valley, collection sites were hosted by AACM and participating member management companies at locations throughout the Valley. The support of these organizations helped make the drive accessible to members and contributed to its overall success. AACM extends its sincere appreciation to every participating organization for its partnership and commitment to giving back to the community.
Following the conclusion of the drive, members of the AACM Outreach Committee volunteered their time on Friday, June 26, at the AACM office to sort and organize the donated supplies before delivery. The committee organized the donations to help maximize the available storage space at Backpacks 4 Kids AZ and make distribution more efficient for the nonprofit's volunteers. The donations were delivered to Backpacks 4 Kids AZ on Tuesday, June 30, where they will be distributed to local students and families in time for the start of the new school year.
Michele Tallberg, Director for Backpacks 4 Kids AZ, highlighted the impact of the partnership: "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."
This initiative underscores the community association industry's ongoing commitment to strengthening the communities it serves. AACM extends its gratitude to every volunteer, donor, collection site, committee member, and participating company whose support made this year's outreach effort possible.
