BOARDMAN, Ohio – Two local nonprofits will share in more than $62,200 in contributions from Boardman Subaru as part of Subaru’s Share the Love annual event, principals announced.
A check for $39,229 was awarded to Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, and a second donation of $23,042 was given to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley during a check presentation ceremony at the South Avenue dealership Tuesday morning.
“We want to be a good partner to the community. We like to take care of our customers, and we plan to be here a long, long time,” said Rob Fellman, owner of Boardman Subaru. “This is truly a hometown, local dealer, and we’re all part of the community.”
Fellman said the company donated $325 for every Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at the dealership between Nov. 16, 2024, and Jan. 3, 2025, toward a nonprofit of the customers’ choice. Additional donations were also available through the dealership’s service department, he said.
“Our customers are the ones that choose,” he said. “This year was our largest donation ever.”
Customers could choose between four national organizations – the National Park Foundation, Meals on Wheels, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Make-a- Wish Foundation – and the two local nonprofits.
The bulk of the donations went to the local operations, Fellman said.
The Share the Love event is part of a larger Love Promise campaign that Subaru America spearheads every year, including initiatives to help the environment, education, pet adoption and coat donations that help schoolchildren.
Fellman estimates the dealership has donated more than $400,000 in contributions to a variety of causes over the years.
Mike Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank, said Boardman Subaru has regularly donated to the organization over the past five years through its Share the Love campaign.
In that time, the dealership has raised enough money to provide more than 500,000 meals to needy families and individuals throughout Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, Iberis said. “That’s significant,” he said. “There are thousands of people every year that benefit from this donation. It’s a big deal.”
Paul Olivier, vice president at Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, said as a nonprofit, the hospital relies on philanthropic efforts such as Boardman Subaru’s annual campaign.
“All of the money raised in the Valley stays in the Valley,” he said. “Donations like this go directly into our local operations, and the customers are choosing us. That means a lot.”
Pictured at top: From left are Donnie Nameth, general manager of Boardman Subaru; John Stanko, vice president of Boardman Subaru; Taylor Cooper, Akron Children’s Foundation; Paul Olivier, vice president of Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley; Robbie Fellman, fixed operations director at Boardman Subaru; Rob Fellman, owner of Boardman Subaru; and Michael Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.