Backpacks Full of Possibilities  

Assemblymember Lisa Calderon and her team helped students across Think Together’s Southeast Los Angeles Region prepare for the new school year by providing more than 600 backpacks. 

Merchants Building Maintenance (MBM), a leading commercial services company based in Monterey Park, helped make back-to-school season a little brighter for students in the San Gabriel Valley. With MBM’s support and a meaningful donation from Assemblymember Blanca E. Rubio, 100 backpacks were collected and distributed to students during the City of Duarte’s Concert in the Park. 

Thanks to the generosity of Nossaman LLP, more than 20 students across Think Together’s Los Angeles Metro Region received new backpacks. With more than 22 years of partnership, Nossaman has continued to help change the odds for thousands of students with their impactful contributions. 

The team at Architects Orange (AO) came together to collect more than 80 backpacks for Think Together students in Orange County. AO is the architect firm leading Residences on 4^th, the Think Education Home Office redevelopment project. Board member and Think Together Alumni Paolo Leon is leading the project as a means of giving back to the organization that changed his life. 

Along with donations from J.P. Morgan, who donated 125 backpacks, Dollar Tree donated supplies and a sponsorship from Alliant International University also helped expand the reach of the backpack drive. Their generosity helped ensure students returned to school with essential supplies and the tools they need to take on the year ahead.  

The California Highway Patrol donated more than 100 backpacks to Think Together students in Riverside County, as part of their way to connect with communities and support children’s education. 

“Not every student is able to get new school supplies every year, and this backpack drive is changing that,” said Gicelle Lopez, expanded learning opportunities liaison for Manuel L. Real Elementary School in Val Verde Unified School District.