BOARDMAN, Ohio – Two Mahoning Valley charities received nearly $55,000 combined from donations through Boardman Subaru and Subaru of America.
More than $34,000 was donated to the Akron Children’s Boardman campus, and more than $20,000 was donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley through the 2025 Subaru Share the Love event.
The checks were presented Wednesday at the South Avenue dealership.
“It’s a way that we can give back to the community and a couple of organizations that we feel really strong about,” said Rob Fellman, who owns the dealership. “Akron Children’s approached me when they first came to the area, and then they talked about what they’re all about. They treat every child like it was their own, and they never based treatment on their ability to pay, so I think we need a top class hospital for children here, and we have one, and I think it’s very important.”
Second Harvest’s work also hits home for him.
“Nobody should go hungry, and they are a really great organization,” he said. “They are exactly what they say they do – they give food to people that need it.”
The donations came through new Subaru vehicle sales and qualifying service visits during the 2025 Subaru Share the Love event, from Nov. 20 through Jan. 2. Subaru of America donated $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased to the customer’s charity of choice. Boardman Subaru contributed additional funds directly to the two charities.
Boardman Subaru has partnered with Akron Children’s Boardman campus since 2013 and has supported Second Harvest Food Bank through the Share the Love event for the past five years.
Fellman said the program at the dealership has generated nearly $500,000 for Valley organizations since it started.
Paul Olivier, Akron Children’s Boardman campus vice president, said the donation will go toward operations connected to patient care.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “This year, it’s over $30,000, which is fantastic, and that will go a long way. We take care of 100 children today in our emergency room. It won’t cover all that, but it’ll definitely help with the provision of those services.”
Renee Fuller, Second Harvest executive director, said the donation will pay for 115,000 meals.
“We always are in need of food, and right now donations start to drop off … during the summer,” she said. “Those are months that are just as important as any other month throughout the year because of kids that are home now from school. They need to have that extra meal or meals that they normally get from school, so there’s a burden on the parents, grandparents. It’s just very, very helpful to have this extra money.”
Boardman Subaru customers can choose which charity receives the donation from their purchase. The national charities involved in the campaign are the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Meals on Wheels America, Make A Wish and the National Park Foundation.
Most Valley customers choose one of the local charities.
“This year we raised over $75,000, and over $50,000 went to our local charities,” Fellman said.
Pictured at top: From left are Paul Olivier, vice president of Akron Children’s Boardman campus; Don Nameth, Boardman Subaru general manager; Robbie Fellman, dealership fixed operations director; dealership owner Rob Fellman; and John Stanko, dealership vice president.