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Volunteers
The most valuable thing we can give is time.
 The personal investment of time plays an important role in Subaru's ability to make a difference in our community. Employee volunteerism is one of our core values and our employees embrace an array of Team Subaru projects in communities across the country. Their generous donation of time and talent make a difference to a number of organizations serving our home communities.
The initiatives below are just a small sample of the generosity of Subaru employees. Our employees respond to needs in local communities thus our activities may differ year-to-year. During the past year, some of the Team Subaru projects have included serving meals at a soup kitchen, adopting families during the holiday season, and participating in numerous community walks and runs.
Subaru Tutoring Program
For the past 15 years, Subaru employees have tutored elementary students in Cherry Hill, NJ through the Subaru Tutoring Program. Employees work with students up to grade five for the entire school year to improve basic academic skills. Jim G., a member of our IT department and a tutor for 15 years, continues to participate because "Subaru Tutoring, for me, is more than just helping a student develop their math, reading, or science skills. The weekly one-on-one sessions also help them in communicating, managing their time, focusing their energy, and accomplishing goals. Throughout the year, I can see their self-confidence build as their grades increase. My greatest personal satisfaction comes from knowing that I've helped these kids both inside and outside the classroom."
Bike MS: MS150 Bike Tour
Subaru is a long-time corporate sponsor of the event hosted by the MS Society, Greater Delaware Valley (PA) chapter. This event is the second largest MS bike tour in the country and is the biggest fundraiser for the local MS Society chapter. The Bike MS: MS150 event continues to be so successful for Subaru due to the support of Team Subaru volunteers and bike team. About 50 employees and their family members participate annually on the Subaru bike team and more than 70 volunteer to host the Subaru Rest Stop. Ross S., a service department member, has run the Subaru volunteer and rest stop aspect of this event for 21 years. Why does he stay involved? "My involvement with the MS150 started in 1987, the year I found out that I had MS. The Subaru Rest Stop is the only one along this course that is run entirely by Subaru volunteers and without staff from the MS Society. That says a lot about the Team Subaru commitment and dedication, not only to this event, but in everything we do. I am honored to represent Team Subaru at this event and will continue to be involved as long as I can as it's a cause that is close to my heart."
Sheldon P., a member of our accounting department, was instrumental in forming the bike team 10 years ago and continues to ride for Team Subaru. For Sheldon, "Riding the MS150 was a personal training goal until I stumbled onto an opportunity to support one of the finest organizations in the Philadelphia area. The efforts of the MS Society to build hope, finance research and comfort people stricken with this horrible disease are staggering."
 MLK Day of Service
Subaru employees across the country participate in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Our employees not only volunteer on the Day of Service, but also extend their volunteerism through the week under Subaru Legacy Days. The week-long efforts allow more employees to volunteer at one of a number of community partners. Team Subaru efforts have helped organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House of Camden, NJ; Food Bank of the Rockies in Denver, CO; Sweetwater Camp, Austell, GA; and Loaves & Fishes Ambleside, Gresham, OR.
Each Subaru location has a dedicated group of volunteers who help to plan and implement volunteer activities. One such steering committee member, Helen F. of the Northwest Region Innovators in Portland, said that "participating in MLK Day gives everyone an opportunity to help the community as a team, which we don't normally get to do. We recently delivered food and meals to the needy and I came away feeling as though I did make a difference. It was a wonderful feel-good event."
 Drive Out Hunger
This summer we held our first annual corporate-wide food drive. Drive Out Hunger was established in response to the growing and changing hunger needs in local communities. Food collected in each Subaru location stayed in the local community. Our goal of 15,000 pounds was a stretch - or so we thought. In the end, Subaru employees collected and donated 29,000 pounds of food. Debbie J., one of the leaders of the food drive at the Great Lakes Region in Itasca, IL, said, "The outpouring of generosity from Subaru team members was wonderful. The agency we worked with was compassionate and taught us about the far reaching effects of hunger in our local community. It was both enlightening and saddening. We felt privileged to be part of this rewarding effort and we look forward to next year's Drive Out Hunger."
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