AANM Has a History of Giving

One of the things I am most proud of during my time at the Apartment Association of New Mexico has little to do with the number of members we represent, the events we host, or even the work we do advocating for the multifamily housing industry.

It is the generosity I have seen from our members.

Over the years, I have seen firsthand how much people in our industry care about the communities where we live and work. Our members give their time, their resources, and their talents to help people and organizations across New Mexico often without receiving, or even seeking, any recognition for it.

That history of giving is one of the reasons we created AANM Cares. And when you look at what our members have accomplished together, it is a story worth telling.

Since 2018, AANM and its members have raised $302,015 for local New Mexico charities.

Those dollars have come through our Annual Charity Golf Tournament, AANM Charity Gala, and other charitable contributions. Behind that number are countless sponsors, golfers, gala attendees, volunteers, donors, supplier partners, property management companies, and individuals who have stepped up year after year to support organizations doing incredible work in our state.

$302,015 Raised and Countless Lives Impacted

Over the years, our charitable efforts have allowed us to support organizations with very different missions, but each is working to make life better for New Mexicans.

We have supported the New Mexico Dream Center, which works with survivors of human trafficking. Our relationship with the Dream Center became particularly meaningful in 2024, when AANM was honored as the New Mexico Dream Center's Corporate Champion. I was incredibly proud to see our association and our members recognized for their commitment to such an important organization and cause.

We have supported the New Mexico Veterans Integration Center, which works with veterans and their families facing challenges including homelessness and food insecurity.

We have helped Watermelon Mountain Ranch, New Mexico's largest no-kill animal shelter, continue its work caring for animals and finding them loving homes.

Our members have supported Breaking Barriers Youth Sports Foundation, helping remove financial obstacles so that more New Mexico children have the opportunity to participate in youth sports.

We have raised funds for Special Olympics New Mexico, which provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

We have supported Endorphin Power Company, which provides transitional housing and substance abuse recovery services to individuals working toward stability and independence.

We have partnered with the Domestic Violence Resource Center, supporting its work assisting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

And we have supported Los Ojos de la Familia, an organization helping individuals and families in need throughout our community through grants, scholarships, financial assistance, and other forms of support.

When I look at that list, what strikes me most is the range of people our members have helped: children, veterans, families in crisis, survivors of violence and human trafficking, individuals working toward recovery, people with intellectual disabilities, and even animals in need of a home.

That is an impact our industry should be proud of.

The Side of Our Industry People Don't Always See

A few years ago, something became increasingly apparent to me.

A significant disconnect often exists between how the multifamily housing industry is perceived and the people I have the privilege of working with every day.

I regularly hear stories about our members volunteering, donating, helping residents and families, supporting nonprofits, and stepping up when someone in their community needs help. Yet many of those stories go untold.

The public may see an apartment community, a property management company, a maintenance team, or an industry supplier. What they don't always see are the people behind those businesses, but I do.

I see our members give up their time to volunteer. I see companies sponsor charitable organizations and community events. I see maintenance professionals use their skills to improve nonprofit facilities. I hear stories about members helping individual families through difficult circumstances. And every year, I watch our members show up when AANM asks them to support another deserving New Mexico organization.

More Than a Number

I am incredibly proud that AANM and our members have raised $302,015 since 2018, but the dollar amount only tells part of the story.

It doesn't capture the volunteer hours. It doesn't show the relationships that have been built with local nonprofits. It doesn't count the individual acts of kindness happening at apartment communities and companies throughout our state. And it certainly can't measure what that support has meant to the people who received it.

Most importantly, none of this happens because of AANM alone. It happens because of our members.

It happens because year after year, our members say yes. They buy the golf sponsorship. They attend the gala. They donate the auction item. They volunteer. They write the check. They show up.

They do it because New Mexico isn't simply where we conduct business. It is our home.

AANM has a history of giving. And with the continued generosity of our members, that history is still being written.