Feeding Medina County

Feeding Medina County Benefits from Subaru Campaign

Published: Friday, March 21, 2014 3:10 PM EDT

Brian Williams, Buckeye School District Superintendent and Feeding Medina County Board member, Scott Shafer, District Sales Manager, Subaru of America Inc., Mike LaGuardia, Subaru Sales Manager, Sandy Calvert, Feeding Medina County Executive Director, and Charlie Dodds, Brunswick Auto Mart General Manager with the mock check for the presentation.

Story by Angela Huston ~ Photos by Russ Huston

Sandy Calvert, Executive Director, Feeding Medina County, could only gasp when she saw the amount of the check Subaru of North East Ohio/Brunswick Auto Mart was about to present to Feeding Medina County March 20. The $15,833.22 donation was raised during the Subaru Share the Love Campaign.

Now in its sixth year, this national Subaru campaign that involves the entire corporation, has donated more than $35 million dollars to worthy charities.

This year's Share the Love Campaign began November 21, 2013 and ended January 2, 2014. Subaru donated $250 to a charitable organization for every Subaru leased or purchased during that time frame.

Customers had a choice of donating to one of five national charities: ASPCA, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels, National Park Foundation, and Teach for America. However, this year, for the first time, Subaru dealerships could offer customers a sixth selection, a local charity. The Brunswick Auto Mart, a Panteck owned and operated dealership, chose Feeding Medina County.

Mike LaGuardia, Subaru Sales Manager, was eager to have a local charity be one of the choices. He was inspired to submit an application suggesting Feeding Medina County as the local charity of choice after seeing a similar promotion Papa John's Pizza had successfully undertaken.

Last summer he contacted Calvert, who was grateful for the possible opportunity to raise more funds for FMC. The application was accepted within days. Slightly more than 100 car transactions took place during the campaign; more than 60 of the customers chose to have their $250 donated to FMC. LaGuardia said, "The success of this campaign was truly a team effort."

The emotional Calvert was almost speechless when she saw the mock check. "I don't know what to say." However, her gratitude was very obvious. Some of this money will probably go towards the fund to replace the limping truck FMC is now relying on. Calvert said, "The truckís logo, 'Moving Food, Feeding People', is what this program is all about."

Also attending the check presentation were Charlie Dodds, Brunswick Auto Mart General Manager; Scott Shafer, District Sales Manager, Subaru of America, Inc., from Columbus; and Brian Williams, Buckeye School District Superintendent and FMC Board member.

The mission of Feeding Medina County is 'to educate, engage and lead our community in creating an environment where no one goes hungry.' To learn more, please call 330-421-4816 or e-mail info@feedingmedinacounty.org.