ACAM has taken on an essential but under-appreciatd task of being an intermediary between organizations that have taken on the task of being part of the social safety net for the Houston-Galveston area and a very sympathetic and supportive public that nevertheless does not fully appreciate how much more effective a charitable organization can be when it is financially strong, competently led and networked with other like-minded members. ACAM advocates for these organizations, facilitates their communication, raises capacity-building funds for them and, to use an overused but nontheless true cliche, has the backs of Houston area community assistance ministries. I am priviledged and proud to be part of its story.