For eight years, Realty Executives has partnered with OCJ Kids to help local foster children start the school year with confidence. What began as an annual backpack fundraiser has grown into a meaningful tradition of giving back—raising more than $130,000 and providing 5,215 brand-new backpacks to children throughout the local community.
For the Realty Executives Arizona Territory team, this year’s fundraiser represents more than a charitable initiative. It reflects the company’s longstanding belief that successful businesses have a responsibility to invest in the communities they serve. By supporting local organizations and causes that make a tangible difference, the brokerage continues to demonstrate that its impact extends well beyond buying and selling homes.
The fundraiser is coordinated each year by Saresse Zelman, Administrative Assistant for Realty Executives Arizona Territory, whose passion and dedication have helped make it one of the company’s most meaningful traditions. From organizing donations to personally shopping for every backpack, Saresse manages the effort from start to finish, ensuring every child receives a brand-new backpack filled with the essentials needed to begin the school year with confidence.
“Watching our Realty Executives family come together year after year to support these children is incredibly rewarding,” said Zelman. “A backpack may seem like a simple gift, but for a child in foster care, it can mean walking into school with confidence and knowing that someone cares. I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported this fundraiser over the years and helped make a difference in the lives of these amazing kids.”
For children entering foster care or experiencing uncertain circumstances, something as simple as a new backpack can provide a sense of normalcy, dignity, and encouragement during a significant time of transition. It serves as a reminder that an entire community is invested in their success, helping them begin the school year feeling prepared and supported.
Representatives from OCJ Kids recently visited Realty Executives Arizona Territory to collect this year’s backpacks, continuing a partnership that has positively impacted thousands of children over the past eight years. The annual delivery has become a celebration of generosity, made possible by the collective support of agents, staff, clients, business partners, and members of the community who contribute each year.
“Our brokerages’ success isn’t measured solely by the business they build—it’s also measured by the difference they make in the communities they serve,” said Patrick van den Bossche, President of Realty Executives International. “Seeing the Realty Executives community rally around this cause for eight consecutive years is something we’re incredibly proud of. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, and especially to Saresse, whose dedication has transformed a simple idea into a tradition that changes lives.”
As Realty Executives Arizona Territory celebrates the eighth year of this initiative, the company remains committed to strengthening the communities it serves through philanthropy, volunteerism, and meaningful partnerships. The backpack drive is just one example of how a shared commitment to giving back can create lasting change—one child, one family, and one community at a time.
To connect with Saresse Zelman to learn more, email her at SZelman@RealtyExAz.com.
