San Mateo PAL Pulse August 2026

Over 600 students are heading back to school a little more prepared thanks to another incredible Backpack PALooza! Backpacks filled with school supplies, books, bookmarks, and snacks found their way into the hands of local kids and families, helping them start the school year with confidence and excitement.

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This year's event was especially meaningful as we proudly dedicated Backpack PALooza in honor of Sally and Mike Mayer. Through the incredible generosity of the Mayer Family Foundation, Sally and Mike have been longtime champions of our youth and our community. Their unwavering support has helped make this event possible year after year, and we were honored to recognize them for their commitment to ensuring every child has the tools they need to succeed.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to the officers of the San Mateo Police Department, our partners at the City of San Mateo Parks & Recreation, PAL Board of Directors, our amazing volunteers, and our generous sponsors - the Mayer Family Foundation, BlackRock, Verkada, Gloria Rhodes Brown, Maven Lane Financial, Office Depot, and St. James AME Zion Church. Your generosity, time, and dedication continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of local families. Together, we're building stronger kids, stronger families, and a stronger community - one backpack at a time. If you're on Instagram, you can check out our full recap Reel HERE.

And the excitement didn't stop there - our event made the news... twice! Thank you to KTVU Fox 2 and KRON 4 News for helping us share the impact of this special day with the community. You can watch both segments by clicking HERE and HERE!