At Patriot Subaru in Saco, Maine, we believe that the season of giving shouldn't just be during the holidays. That's why we created our 12 Weeks of Giving campaign, an initiative that supports local charities and community non-profits in our area. To help channel our giving, we have partnered with the United Way of York County and United Way of Greater Portland to identify programs and initiatives that support healthy communities and bright futures.  After all, we are only as strong as the community we serve.

How does it work? During the first week of every month in 2021, we will be giving back to a different local organization. We will donate $25 from the price of every car we sell during the donation week. We will double the donation if the purchaser lives in the zip code where the organization is located.

Patriot teamed with the United Way of York County and United Way of Greater Portland who work year-round to improve people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. We saw how they unite individuals and organizations around a shared vision, working to improve the education, financial stability, and health for all citizens.  They embody the Patriot Mission Statement: "To Serve", and we are proud that they have joined us on this initiative.

Previous Month's Charitable Partners

Our July Charity: Sanford Springvale YMCA

For the month of July Patriot Subaru presented a gift of $1500 to the United Way of Southern Maine, earmarked for our friends at the Sanford-Springvale YMCA.  We strongly support neighbors helping neighbors, and the SS YMCA is a great example of bringing about youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y is accessible to all people, engaging over 10,000 kids, adults, and seniors every year. Financial assistance is offered to individuals and families who cannot afford membership through their Scholarship Program. Accepting the check, Jason Ketterick from the UW Southern Maine, flanked by Dustin Kimball and Sara Ellsbury, sales associates at Patriot. We thank the United Way program for connecting us with strong, action oriented organizations like the YMCA that make a difference everyday. Thank you all for what you do! 

Our June Charity:  Healthy Community Fund

Our June "12 Weeks of Giving" tally amounted to $1725, and was awarded to our charitable partner of the month, Portland's Healthy Community Fund. Joining us for a photo, L-R, Mike Young/ United Way Greater Portland, Paul Hall, Patriot Service Manager, Service Technicians, Jake Labonte and Jonah Maskell, with Maggie Gamble from HCF. The group provides children, adults and communities in Cumberland County with the resources and opportunities to achieve optimal health by 2027. The Healthy Community Fund focus is on preventing, intervening, and treating substance use disorder, mental illness and suicidal ideation. The goal: help all neighbors live longer, better lives. We appreciate what they bring to the table, knowing that their efforts will definitely make a difference.

Our May Charity:  Bright Beginnings / Sweetser, York County

 

The Patriot Subaru "12 Weeks of Giving" netted $1600 in May for our friends at Sweetser, earmarked for their Bright Beginnings initiative. In coordination with United Way of York County Maine, the BB program works to ensure all York County children, from birth through age 8, have the best possible start for lifelong learning and success. That partnership goes a long way towards helping many parents and their children dealing with emotional and behavioral challenges that impede their success. Glad we could help! Joining us, L-R, Elliott Greene from the United Way, Kaz Bell/Patriot Subaru handing off the check to Debra Taylor/ President-CEO Sweetser, and Mike MacDonald/Patriot Subaru. Patriot appreciates the great work these organizations provide our community!

Our April Charity: Greater Portland Workforce Initiative

 

April introduced the Greater Workforce Initiative to our "12 Weeks" Program, and Patriot was able to generate a donation of $1700 to this organization. Accepting the check on behalf of GPWI was Kwame Yeboah, Senior Project Manager, joined by Mike Young from the United Way of Greater Portland. The United Way provides a great resource for helping us identify excellent non-profits who make a difference. In this case, dollars will go to support GPWI's Thrive2027 Goal 2, helping our neighbors to thrive, not just survive. GPWI addresses critical needs from local employers, and training for individuals seeking employment. Making these connections, getting talented people the opportunity to join top businesses, is a great way to build and fortify a community. Count us in! 

 

Our March Charity: Kids First Center, Scarborough

March was chilly but no snow, so half lamb, half lion!  Either way, things warmed up at Patriot and the resulting donation from vehicle sales earned $1425 for our 12 Weeks charity, the Kids First Center of Scarborough. Brian Beattie/ GM Patriot Subaru in center, presented the check to Tim Robbins, Executive Director at Kids First, with Jason Ketterick, Chief Engagement Officer for the United Way of York County giving the thumbs up.

The Kids First Center focus is to help children during the challenging time of separation or divorce of their parents, essentially keeping them out of the middle when the communication between adults is not productive. Kids engage with online support groups, aided by professionals working with the families in transition. The goal is to reinforce positive co-parenting communication skills, and assist parent's efforts to raise healthy, happy, well- adjusted children.  Important work indeed.   Thank you from Patriot, the United Way York County, and the families you serve!

Our February Charity: Cooking For Community

Our February partner, Cooking for Community Maine, received a check for $1050. Volunteer Operations Coordinator Ian Malin pictured on the right, visited Patriot to receive the donation from David Shoemaker, our General Sales Manager. C4C formed in response to Covid in May of 2020. Their aim is to raise money to buy food - much of it local, then compensating local restaurants to prepare meals for those in need. Not only is it feeding people who may be homeless or out of work, it is helping to keep restaurants and their staff working, as well as giving farmers a place to sell their goods - all levels that were hit hard by the pandemic. From May -Dec 2020, it resulted in 75,000 distributed meals. Amazing work - thank you C4C, and to all of the sponsors, farmers, restaurant personnel and volunteers that made it work!

Our January Charity: Westbrook Families Feeding Families

In January, we helped contribute to the amazing work done by Westbrook Families Feeding Families. Their goal is to help feed local families the food they need in order to stay healthy, active, and engaged with our community. What started in a member of the organization's garage is now rapidly growing to help families in Maine. This non-profit serves about 30 families a week with 60-80 bags of non-perishable groceries.

We are excited to announce that we were able to donate $1,475 to this incredible organization through your Subaru purchases. Every single dollar went directly toward purchasing more food for those in need. At Patriot Subaru, our mission is to be people who serve people. The 12 Weeks of Giving initiative is helping us do just that.