There are countless ways to make the world a better place. The Subaru Love Promise is our vision to show love and respect to all people, and our commitment to improving the lives around us. It’s not only our employees and retailers who love to help, though – we are constantly amazed at the generosity of our owners and the entire Subaru community. In this issue, dedicated to the idea of Inspiring Kindness, we listened to the stories of several notable volunteers, all members of the Subaru community. By finding the causes closest to their hearts and deciding where their efforts were most needed, each has been able to have a meaningful impact. We hope you find their stories as inspirational as we do.
Rising to the Challenge
Derrick Antes of Coral Gables, Florida, with other University of Miami physical therapy students, participates in the Hurricane Challenge, an annual field day put on by the university for local public school students with disabilities.
“I’m studying to be a physical therapist at the University of Miami. Each year the school holds something called the Hurricane Challenge. It’s a field day for local kids with disabilities. Before getting involved, I had zero experience working with disabled children, and I had never volunteered before. The first year I participated, I helped the kids take part in some of the activities, making sure every kid could play.
There was this one little boy who kept returning to my station again and again. We were throwing Frisbees at targets that hung from a tree. During lunch, he even ate his pizza next to the game, next to me. I sat with him and we chatted about school and sports. His parents were so happy, saying how much they look forward to this event every year.
So much joy filled my heart. These kids, some with cerebral palsy or spina bifida or Down syndrome or motor impairments, they’re all very capable of achieving amazing things. During a typical field day, they may be reluctant to try for fear of bullying or failure. But here, they can do everything. I was hooked.
This year, I helped with planning, fundraising and setup. I took more than 700 pictures of the kids during the event, and I helped get donations for the all-important goody bags. We stuffed backpacks with coloring supplies, stickers, bouncy balls, tattoos, sunglasses and water bottles.
All of it, from the activities to the goody bags, creates a day that feels like a carnival with all the emotions of a trip to a theme park. Everyone’s so happy. As long as I’m in the area – even after graduation – I will be back to help.”
Subaru Ambassador Derrick Antes
At the Hurricane Challenge, all students can participate in fun activities, such as fishing.
Students entering the Hurricane Challenge are cheered on, football-game-tunnel style.Finding Homes
Mandi Haase from Brandon, South Dakota, founded B-Squad Dog Rescue, a volunteer organization that rescues homeless dogs.
“I have five kids and four dogs. I’m a busy banker, wife and mom, leading a full life. But when I learned about a reservation in South Dakota that was home to packs of stray dogs, with no veterinary care, shelters or animal control, I was compelled to get involved. I called a shelter near my hometown in Minnesota and asked if they’d be willing to take any dogs if I was willing to make the 13-hour roundtrip journey to get and deliver them. They said yes and, four years later, I’m still transporting. B-Squad has moved over 8,000 dogs and puppies – and we do adoptions now, too. We clock one or two rescue missions a week at 900 miles each, round-trip.
Also, these animals are transported in style. Mike Schulte and his team at Schulte Subaru, our local Subaru retailer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, fitted our van with custom rear heating and air conditioning for the safety and comfort of our precious cargo. They even donated a brand-new Outback for vet visits, emergency transports, anything we need. Experiencing that generosity, plus being a part of the amazing transformation of these dogs – from scared and hopeless to the most loyal, loving dogs I’ve ever seen – has changed me. It’s extremely humbling to play a small role in creating a positive change.”
B-Squad director Mandi Haase, left, with her daughter Reagan and volunteer Ashley Carrison at the Miles for Mutts 5k & Family Dog Walk.
B-Squad foster pup Tala feels the love.Supporting the Troops
In 2003, Alan Krutchkoff of Fair Lawn, New Jersey, started Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, an organization that sends care packages and supplies to members of the United States Armed Forces stationed overseas and in harm’s way.
“Back in 2003, a coworker of my wife’s accidentally smashed into her parked car. I was pretty upset over it. Then my wife told me the driver was distracted and distraught because her son-in-law had just been deployed to Iraq. Being an Air Force veteran myself, I got over my upset feelings pretty quickly – and decided we needed to send the son-in-law a care package. I never set out to start a charity, but 15 years later, my organization has mailed over 20,000 packages to troops.
I regularly pack Ranger – he’s my Subaru Outback – up to the roof with care-package donations like granola bars, soaps and deodorants, candy, magazines, Girl Scout cookies, and, of course, coffee. Lots of coffee – and coffee machines. There are personal items, too, like hand-sewn pillows or notes from school children. We even had hundreds of baseballs decorated with notes of support from kids. We don’t send junk. We send what you’d send to your loved ones.
Ranger is from Liberty Subaru in Emerson, New Jersey, and they have been a big help. Every year, owner Rick DeSilva spotlights Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon during the Subaru Share the Love® Event, meaning our organization can get $250 for each car sold.
We want the troops to know that even strangers care. I’ve heard from so many who’ve said our package came at the very moment they needed it most. Some have even said that our packages saved their lives. I don’t take that lightly. It’s often just the boost they need. And, honestly, starting Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon was the boost I needed. It’s given me so much. If it wasn’t for AaSP I never would’ve met a very special wounded soldier at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Today, he’s pretty much our own adopted soldier. He calls me Dad and my wife Mom 2.0. Everything about Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon has changed my life. I can’t imagine not doing this.”
Apryl Williams poses with a shipment of pillows handmade by AaSP’s Director of Patriotism, Diane Casey.
Alan KrutchkoffPhoto: John Emerson
Building Bonds
New Jersey coworkers Lois Palmer of National Park and Gail Lynn Lombardo of Cherry Hill team up to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds or improves homes for people in need around the world.
Lois: “Gail and I have worked together at Subaru for over 30 years. We’re more than coworkers, though. We’re best buds, almost like sisters. We even dress alike at times!”
Gail: “In 2008, Subaru held a volunteer day with Habitat for Humanity and needed someone to chair the event. Lois and I decided to co-chair. We’ve been doing it ever since.”
Lois: “On our first build, Gail was on the roof and I was handing up the plywood. She asked for help getting down, so I handed her a broom and told her to fly down.”
Gail: “We laughed so hard.”
Lois: “Over the years, we’ve participated in two full builds and six rehabs. Being on the worksite is great exercise – climbing ladders, digging, hammering. And I get to meet so many people from different departments at Subaru. A professional contractor working on the unit next to us once commented that he has never seen people work so well together and get so much done.”
Gail: “In the last few years, we have had the opportunity to meet some of the families who will be moving into the homes we are all building or rehabbing together. To see the excitement of a family who knows they have a home they worked to build is heartwarming.”
Lois: “It’s special knowing you made a difference in someone’s life, and their family has a comfortable, stable home. My grandchildren hear about what I’m doing and are more inspired to volunteer in their communities.”
Gail: “I’m a mom of seven and my youngest three kids have helped with Habitat at one time or another. But all seven have some volunteer cause they are passionate about. We support one another in our passions. Pay it forward!”
Flying a Flag
PFLAG, the nation’s largest family and ally organization for the LGBTQ community, empowered Aiden Takeo Aizumi of Duarte, California, to become president of his local chapter.
“PFLAG became an important part of my life back in high school when I came out as a lesbian and then as a transgender man a couple of years later. I was going through a lot, getting bullied in school, experiencing regular panic attacks. And my family felt alone, too. My mom asked me to start attending PFLAG meetings with her. It was important for her to have that space to communicate her fears and questions with people who could relate. She wanted that for me, too. And she was so right. PFLAG was a game-changer for us, making us feel supported and heard. So when I got to be an adult, I wanted to help others feel that way, too. Today, I’m president of my local chapter, but I started by volunteering with our youth group, organizing speakers, coordinating activities and planning fundraisers. Part of the fundraising provides higher education awards to graduating high school and continuing ed students. It feels great to get these kids their books, or supplies, or whatever they need to start the rest of their lives. It gives me hope that these kids will have a different and more positive experience than I had.
“It’s funny: It really hit me that we’re making strides when I was at the PFLAG national conference and saw a Subaru table. I was blown away. I drive an Impreza Sport, but I had no idea that the company whose cars I love was there to support me and folks like me. I think that every time a member of the LGBTQ community shares their story, we help encourage companies to speak up and stand beside us. We’re inspiring change and, at the same time, I’ve changed thanks to activism and volunteering. I’d be a completely different person without it. I’ve come to find my own voice and confidence through helping others. And I’m so optimistic we can all help create change in the world.”
Subaru partners with a diverse range of organizations to spread the Love Promise as far as possible. Together with our retailers, we work to protect the environment, promote healthy lives, combat hunger, support education and keep animals safe and healthy. If you have a story that carries the Love Promise, visit subaru.com/dear-subaru and enter Drive magazine in the story title!
