Close The 2025 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award
We are honored to be nationally recognized by Subaru Of America, Inc. for our dedication to our community and the Subaru Love Promise.
The 2025 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award recognizes elite Subaru retailers who provide an exceptional customer experience at every interaction with Subaru. These retailers have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting passions and causes in their local communities in important areas such as environment, community, health, education, and pets.
Here at Dewey Griffin Subaru, we love our community as much as we love our vehicles and are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of all our customers and neighbors.
View Our Love Promise PledgeDid Dewey Griffin Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
What is the Subaru Love Promise®?
The Subaru Love Promise® is our vision to show love and respect to all people at every interaction with Subaru. Subaru and our retailers believe every day gives us an opportunity to positively impact the world around us – by how we support each other, our customers, and our community. Together, we are committed to making the world a better place.
The Love Promise is what makes Subaru More Than a Car Company® and a Subaru retailer More Than a Car Dealer®. It sets a standard that we are committed to living every day.
What is the Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment?
At Dewey Griffin Subaru, we believe in being a positive force in our community, not just with donations, but with actions that set an example for others to follow. We aim to make the world a better place through several key initiatives that help support and protect people, pets, and our planet:
How is Dewey Griffin Subaru dedicated locally to the Love Promise?
At Dewey Griffin Subaru, we have a long-standing commitment to our co-workers, our customers and our community. We believe that when a community works together, great things happen. We're proud to support many charitable organizations throughout Whatcom county and are dedicated to making our company, our community and the world around us a better place.
Alternative Humane Society | Whatcom Humane Society
Bellingham Senior Activity Center | Bellingham Food Bank | Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce | Whatcom & San Juan Meals on Wheels | Blue Skies for Children
AdoptAClassroom.org
Whatcom Council on Aging | Peace Health St. Joseph's Hospital Cancer Center
Holiday Matching Campaign Goes Above and Beyond for Neighbors - Sierra C
This year, Dewey Griffin Subaru's annual matching campaign went above and beyond for our community. Thanks to their generous $5,000 match and the incredible response from donors, we raised $11,605 to support food purchasing for the food bank. These funds will provide 25,000 meals for the households we serve, critical support during a busy time of year. Right now, food security is particularly difficult for families in our community. The food bank has seen a 30% increase in shoppers in November alone. With federal benefits shifting and costs remaining high, many folks who were already stretched thin are facing even more challenges to make ends meet. Having the food bank as a resource means people don't have to choose between putting food on the table and paying rent. The support from Dewey Griffin Subaru makes this possible. I spoke with a shopper who came in during the week of Thanksgiving, worried about whether there would be enough food for everyone at the food bank that day. Because of the support from this matching campaign, our shelves were fuller than they had been in months. The shopper told me: "I work so hard to make ends meet. The food bank helps make it work. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you're here." We are able to be here because of partners like Dewey Griffin Subaru. This campaign, started by Dick Meyer, who believed deeply that no family should go without food during the holidays. His legacy of sustained support for the food bank and our community is what makes our work possible. Thank you for continuing this tradition in his memory.
Success For The Pets - PAT A
Another successful event for the Subaru Loves Pets Campaign! Please accept our Thank You for including Alternative Humane Society of Whatcom County (AHS) in the 2025 Subaru Loves Pets Campaign! Special thanks to Amy Seidel, who worked with AHS to coordinate this event, and to Morgan Wheadon, General Manager, for his personal support and participation. We really appreciate all the time, energy, and money you expend to support our small non-profit. You are recognized as a huge supporter of many organizations in our community and we are pleased to be one of them! Including AHS in your marketing campaign for the October event provided several benefits to AHS: · Broad community exposure for a small local nonprofit with a connection with local media · Connections with a valued community partner in our area · A successful food and supply drive for our foster animals · A financial boon to AHS by providing us with a grant award from ASPCA of $8,000 to support our adoption and spay/neuter activities in Whatcom County. Your dealership hosted an adoption event for AHS on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Dewey Griffin employees provided everything we could have possibly wanted for the eventspace, snacks, giveaways, and plenty of help with smiling faces! You have a great team! At the event, AHS had a good mix of dogs and cats on-site. I am delighted to report that all animals at the event (7 dogs and 4 cats) have had successful adoptions. In addition to all the food and supplies donated we received $100 in cash donations. A very successful day! Though the campaign has ended, we continue to see benefits from our partnership through increased numbers of visits to our social media sites and applications from folks hoping to provide much-needed foster homes for our animals! Thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of such a terrific effort! Sincerely, Pat Atkinson, Treasurer
Back2School Boost - CAPRICE T
Thanks to your incredible partnership and generous commitment to the Subaru Love Promise, our 2025 Back2School Boost was an extraordinary success. Over three days in September, more than 400 children walked through our doors and left with brand-new coats and shoes, giving them the confidence, warmth, and excitement they deserve as they head into a new school year. Your collaboration with Operation Warm made it possible to provide high-quality shoes to every child who needed them. Families browsed tables filled with colorful, durable, brand-new footwear, choosing pairs that fit both their style and their growing feet. We also saw joy and relief on the faces of families who came for support. Thanks to you, they left with more than essentials, they left with hope. Your support didnt stop there. Dewey Griffin Subarus donation of live-radio time and the generous $2,500 matching gift inspired the community to rally around our mission. Together, these efforts helped raise an additional $3,000, ensuring we can continue serving children in need through the cold winter months ahead. The mission of Blue Skies for Children is to raise hope and self-esteem in young hearts and minds. A key factor in a childs self-esteem is the power of choice. When a child can find a pair of shoes that are not only comfortable, but also fit their personality, you can see them light up. Financial support helps us purchase current styles in a variety of fashions so all children can find a pair that speaks to them. We continue to distribute shoes and coats as the cold weather moves in. Without the additional support from Dewey Griffin Subaru, we would not have enough inventory to continue meeting the need! Blue Skies for Children is deeply grateful for your partnership. Because of Dewey Griffin Subaru, hundreds of children will walk into school feeling warm, confident, and ready to learn. Your commitment to our community shines brightly, and truly embodies what it means to share the Subaru Love Promise. Sincerely, The Blue Skies for Children Team!
Doggone Grrreat Dog Days with Dewey Griffin Subaru! - Paige E
We are so grateful for Dewey Griffin Subaru's continued support of Whatcom Humane Society's Dog Days of Summer Festival. On August 24, we celebrated our 24th year of hosting this free community festival, bringing together over 50 animal welfare-related vendors and business sponsors (including the Dewey Griffin Crew!), delicious local food carts serving vegetarian and vegan fare, and more than 1,000 attendees and their dogs. The day included everyone's favorite canine contests, our beloved dog-friendly caricaturist, a kid's booth with several pet toy-making projects, many canine cooling stations to help beat the heat, and so many happy pups and their people. All of this was made paw-sible thanks to Dewey Griffin's role as a presenting sponsor of the festival. In addition to this, their generosity in allowing us and other nonprofits to utilize their electronic reader board to display upcoming events and programs is such a wonderful opportunity to boost awareness of our mission and activities, and their Love Promise Coordinator, Amy, is always so kind, helpful, and genuinely invested in the nonprofit causes Dewey Griffin supports. Every extra act of compassion during a tough year like this makes all the difference, and we are extremely appreciative to Dewey Griffin Subaru for their promise and care for the community. Thank you!
TAKING CARE OF THOSE THAT TAKE CARE OF US - CAROL B
When the Dewey Griffin Subaru team visited the PeaceHealth Cancer Center in July for their annual donation of blankets for our patients, they toured the new infusion space that had formerly been our large conference room. I explained that based on the growing need for room for our patients, 6 additional chemo stations had been created. During the tour, Morgan Wheadon, Dewey Griffins general manager, commented that the new spaces didnt have televisions like the original, larger chemo suites do. Morgan made the comment, We will have to do something about this for these patients. Wanting to be sure that patients in the new infusion addition had something to keep them busy while receiving treatment, the Dewey staff donated 6 new Samsung Galaxy Tablets A9+ to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center. The tablets will be offered to patients to use as a cheerful distraction during their cancer treatment. For the past eight years, Dewey Griffin Subaru has been a generous community partner through their continuous donations and support of all patients receiving treatment through the PeaceHealth Cancer Center. With a parting hug, Wheadon said to Carol Brumet, outreach coordinator, If there is anything you can think of that we can provide, please let me know. According to Brumet, The team at Dewey Griffin allows us to share a little extra kindness and comfort to those for whom we care. Carol Brumet
Dewey Griffin Subaru Supports Sand Sculptures & Birch Bay Community Spirit - Sacha S
On Saturday, July 26, 2025, the shores of Birch Bay came alive with creativity, collaboration, and community spirit during the 42nd Annual Sand Sculpture Competitionmade possible by the unwavering support of Dewey Griffin Subaru. When event organizers faced a last-minute gap in sponsorship, Dewey Griffin Subaru stepped in without hesitation, driven by their deep-rooted commitment to the Subaru Love Promise. Their immediate response wasnt just generousit was emblematic of what it means to truly support the community. This year, that support was more impactful than ever. Birch Bay and Whatcom County have experienced a noticeable drop in Canadian visitors due to ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and Canadaa challenge for local events that have long relied on cross-border attendance. Dewey Griffin Subarus sponsorship helped bridge that gap, ensuring the event remained vibrant and accessible for families, artists, and beachgoers throughout the region. Leading the charge was Amy Seidel, Dewey Griffins dedicated Love Promise Coordinator. Working with Amy was not only a pleasure, but a reminder of the power of true partnership. Her enthusiasm, responsiveness, and genuine commitment to community elevated every part of the planning process. The results spoke for themselves. With 71 teams sculpting imaginative works of art along the low tide, and an estimated 4,000+ attendees, the 2025 competition broke all previous records for both participation and attendance. Thanks to Dewey Griffin Subarus commitment to putting Love into Action, the Sand Sculpture Competition wasnt just a successit was a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the connections that bring communities together. Birch Bay is proud to call Dewey Griffin Subaru a true community partner.
Dewey Griffin Subaru Delivers Hope - Tovi E
On July 10th, Dewey Griffin Subaru partnered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Peace Health St. Joseph Cancer Center through the Subaru Loves to Care initiative. This partnership involved delivering blankets, patient care kits, and messages of hope to cancer patients. This year, Dewey Griffin Subaru will also support the LLS Urgent Need Program, Pediatric, which will provide 5 pediatric blood cancer patient households with financial relief to help offset non-medical costs associated with treatment, such as transportation, food, housing, utilities, etc. It was an amazing delivery day filled with kindness and connection. Through Dewey Griffin Subaru participation in these programs, it shows they care. Dewey Griffin Subaru consistently shows up and shows out for their community, and that impact was felt on the delivery day. We are so grateful to work and live in a community that takes care of one another. Thank you, Dewey Griffin Subaru and thank you Peace Health St. Joseph Cancer Center for being firm in your mission to help others.
Dewey Griffin Subaru Supports Blue Skies for Children - Eli T
Imagine having to go without a coat, shoes, or even socks. For millions of children and adults experiencing homelessness and other urgent need situations across the country, even here in Bellingham this can be a harsh reality. Helping others is the key to a strong community which is why Dewey Griffin Subaru believes in helping to support individuals and families in urgent need. This season, for our Subaru Loves to Help® initiative, we are partnering with Operation Warm®, a national nonprofit focused on connecting children with the resources they need to thrive. Through this partnership and other historical Subaru Loves to Help efforts, Subaru and retailers like us will have helped nearly 900,000 children and adults in urgent need so far. On 2/20/25, Dewey Griffin Subaru partnered with Blue Skies for Children and donated 300 shoes/socks to children in urgent need. These essential items not only help keep children protected, warm, and dry, it can have a significant impact on a childs mental and emotional well-being.
ODE TO DEWEY GRIFFIN SUBARU - Chris O
Subarus Love Promise is their vision of respecting all people and commitment to making the world a better place. I submit that they fulfill this promise daily, and I am running out of ways to say thank you for ALL Dewey Griffin Subaru does for the Whatcom Council on Aging, our Meals on Wheels & More program and the older adults we support. No seniors should go hungry, and we all need meaningful connection with others in our lives. Our Meals on Wheels and More program served or delivered 273,244 meals in 2024. Dewey Griffin Subarus financial support helped ensure no one was denied a meal or put on a waiting list. Most of our clients are homebound, and many times the volunteer driver is the only person they might see in a week. A smile, a visit, a check-in helps ensure they are seen and a part of the greater community. The holidays can be an especially difficult time for those living alone. This past December, Dewey Griffin Subaru partnered with us to assemble 600 Holiday Gift Boxes in their showroom. Each box was lovingly packed with fresh fruit, snacks, sweet treats, and delivered with a note letting our clients know they are not alone over the holiday. This is just one of the many ways the Dewey Griffin Subaru team supports the Whatcom Council on Aging and non-profits throughout our community. At a May 23rd ceremony where Subaru presented us with yet another generous gift, I shared the poem below in a heartfelt attempt to capture what they mean to us and so many others: Ode to Dewey Griffin Subaru The Meyers family Has built an amazing team That truly cares about others And helping out those in need So Morgan and Amy And Subaru of America reps We are so glad to be here We love getting checks Two hundred seventy-three thousand Two hundred and twenty-four Are the number of meals serve or delivered In 2024 With a smile and a check in From Meals on Wheels volunteers Who like the Dewey Griffin team Has been with us for years But our partnership goes far beyond A giant presentation check You roll up your sleeves and help With every major project From emergency meal boxes For inclement weather To Christmas fruit baskets That we assemble together From Senior Day in Park Where you have the best SWAG To all the other orgs you serve And you never boast or brag Like the Humane Society And helping pets find homes To Blue Skies for Children Helping kids meet their goals From adoptions events To school supply and coat drives You truly care about this community And making sure that we all thrive Whatcom Literacy Council And the Bellingham Food Bank Are part of dozens of non-profits That have you to thank Your commitment to service Is impossible to ignore And was recognized with the Customer & Community Commitment Award So from our WCOA Staff and Board And Meals on Wheels clients We thank the Dewey Griffin Team For being community service giants Thank you for truly Sharing the Love!
Whatcom Literacy Council Trivia Bee - Katherine F
Dewey Griffin Subaru sponsored the Whatcom Literacy Councils big online fundraiser, the TRIVIA BEE, on the evening of Wednesday, April 30, 2025. The Trivia Bee is like the game show Jeopardy!, where teams compete in a battle of wits to claim the championship and bring home a trophy. Local radio celebrity Scotty Van Dryver hosted this fast-paced virtual event. Teams paid a registration fee to raise money, and the Whatcom Literacy Council got lots of publicity and exposure through outreach of the event. All proceeds went to the free adult literacy services offered in Whatcom County. Dewey Griffin Subaru supported this event with a corporate sponsorship of $500. Since 1983 the Whatcom Literacy Council has transformed lives by offering customized, individual tutoring and small group classes to motivated adults who wish to strengthen their literacy skills or become more proficient in English. Our professional staff are educated, certified, and experienced in the fields of adult basic education and teaching English as a second language, and our programs have been developed to have the greatest impact possible. Because our programs are known for their high level of excellence, businesses, colleges, church groups and school districts ask us to partner with them. The most direct and assured path out of poverty is to get a better job and an increase in earnings by improving ones literacy skills. Adults who do not have a high school diploma are three times more likely to be unemployed than someone with a college degree, and they will make almost $10,000 less than their counterparts who have a high school diploma. The Whatcom Literacy Council works with hundreds of low- or moderate-income learners to prepare for and pass the GED, many of whom are eligible for jobs or who take college level classes after completion of the exam. With over 70% of the jobs in our region requiring training beyond a high school diploma, these programs are the launch pad to successful employment. We are proud to be one of the local organizations Dewey Griffin Subaru chooses to support.
ADOPTION EVENT SUCCESS - PAT A
Once again, please accept our huge Thank You for including Alternative Humane society of Whatcom County (AHS) in the 2024 Subaru Loves Pets Campaign! Special thanks to Amy Seidel, who worked with AHS to coordinate this event, and to Morgan Wheadon, General Manager, for his personal support and participation. We acknowledge the disruption this kind of event causes in the day-to-day activities of all dealership employees and customers, and sincerely appreciate the positive response we received from everyone. Including us in your marketing campaign for the month of October provided several benefits to AHS: * Broad community exposure to a small local nonprofit * Connections with a valued community partner in our area * A successful food and supply drive for our foster animals * A financial boon to AHS by providing us with a grant award of $8,000 to support our adoption and spay/neuter activities in Whatcom county *Fostered a great connection for AHS with local media Your dealership hosted an adoption event for AHS on Sunday, October, 20th, 2024. Dewey Griffin Subaru employees provided everything we could have possibly wanted for the event-space, snacks, giveaways, and plenty of help with smiling faces! You have a great team! At the event, AHS had a good mix of puppies and adult dogs, and kittens and adult cats on-site. i am delighted to report that all the animals at the event (2 puppies and 7 adult/senior dogs, 6 kittens and 4 adult cats) have had successful adoptions. In addition to all the food and supplies donated we received $260 in cash donations. A very successful day! Through the campaign has ended, we continue to see benefits from our partnership through increased numbers of visits to our social media sites and applications from folks hoping to provide much-needed foster homes for our animals! Thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of such a terrific effort! Sincerely, Pat Atkinson, Treasurer
Back2School Boost - CAPRICE T
Innovations and improvements were the theme of Back2School Boost 2024! This year for our big distribution event held July 30th- August 3rd, we had over 1,000 families pre-register, many of whom were directed to this event by the family liasons and counselors at their schools. The support of Dewey Griffin Subaru and promotion provided greatly increased awareness of Blue Skies for Children and our aim to support low-income, homeless, and foster youth. This paired with our partnership with area school districts helped us process families prior to the event, vastly reducing the time families needed to spend in line. At the event, families were able to walk through a carefully designed store space where we had laid out shoes, coats, backpacks, hats, gloves, Bombas socks, and handmade knitted accessories crafted by generous community members. We used the personal shopper model again this year, adding more volunteers who spoke Ukrainian and Spanish. You could see visible relief on parents faces when they were paired with a personal shopper who spoke their native tongue. We were also able to translate all of our registration forms and flyers to families this year, greatly reducing communication barriers. We would not have been able provide enough shoes to hold this event without the generous support of Dewey Griffin Subaru. With the $2,500 in matching funds, we were able to raise another $2,675 to purchase 250 pairs of shoes. In addition, Dewey Griffin Subaru donated valuable radio time through ads, a live-broadcast from the site of the distribution event, and an interview on KGMIs Community Connections broadcast. These promotions were instrumental in not only helping us secure more backpack, shoe, and monetary donations; it helped us reach families that were not aware of our services. To date, we have already served 200 more children than in previous years. The mission of Blue Skies for Children is to raise hope and self-esteem in young hearts and minds. A key factor in a childs self-esteem is the power of choice. When a child can find a pair of shoes that are not only comfortable, but also fit their personality, you can see them light up. Financial support helps us purchase current styles in a variety of fashions so all children can find a pair that speaks to them. This years Back2School Boost was a huge success, allowing us to distribute over 600 pairs of shoes, coats, and backpacks. And We are excited about how this years Boost went and have jotted down notes for next years event. We plan to continue the pre-registering model, push the date of the event closer to the start of school to catch more families, and configure volunteer work sheets to match the desired traffic flow for the room. There are not enough words to express how much we appreciate all the support we have received over many years from Dewey Griffin Subaru and the many incredible acts of generosity. The Blue Skies for Children Team thanks you with all our hearts. Sincerely, The Blue Skies for Children Team!
DEWEY GRIFFIN LOVES TO CARE - CAROL B
Our sincerest thanks to everyone at Dewey Griffin Subaru, in partnership with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, for the donation of the blankets for our patients at the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center. This is the seventh year that we have been given the opportunity to share the gift of kindness and warmth with our patients. As the weather starts to cool, starting in October, our radiation patients will receive the gift of one of the beautiful new blankets. Daily radiation can render our patients quite chilly as the radiation builds up, doing its job in the fight against their cancer. Our radiation therapists will present each patient currently on treatment with a blanket and the message of hope from the Dewey Team. We have witnessed hundreds of smiles and hugs that are generated between our patients and our staff who have the privilege of sharing the blankets. Truly, I'm not sure who gets more happiness from the blankets the giver or the receiver. Over the years of giving the Subaru blankets, we have gifted them to homeless patients in our community who are receiving treatment for cancer. We know that receiving a clean, warm blanket from people who care about them, could be the greatest act of kindness they have known in a very long time. On behalf of the staff and the patients undergoing treatment for cancer at our Cancer Center, it is with deep gratitude and appreciation that I send this letter to each of you at Dewey Griffin Subaru.
WHS 2024 Dog Days of Summer Festival - Paige E
Our heartfelt thanks to Dewey Griffin Subaru for being one of the presenting sponsors of Whatcom Humane Societys Dog Days of Summer Festival! We are beyond grateful for your ongoing partnership to make this community event possible. Comprised of 40+ nonprofit organizations, local and small businesses, and philanthropic companies like Dewey Griffin Subaru, each year the festival brings together over 1,000 attendees and their canine companions from across and beyond our region, everyone aglow with our shared love for all things dog (and all things T-R-E-A-T where our pups are concerned! ). Next year marks the 25th anniversary of Dog Days, and over the years, weve had the privilege of witnessing dogs, kids, and their families grow up attending the festival together. The moment when the doors open and the field becomes immersed with wagging tails and smiling faces is a unique and singular joy to behold. Whats more, the festival provides a celebratory platform to further build a community in which all animals are treated with kindness, respect, and compassion, with kids and adults alike learning more about animal welfare education, programs, services, and more. We are proud to be able to offer this event to our community for free so that everyone may attend and enjoyand we are humbled by the support of sponsors like Dewey Griffin Subaru that allow us to do so by helping to offset the expenses necessary to operate the festival. Thank you so much, Dewey Griffin Subarufor your commitment to community, your care for companion animals, and your collaboration to give Whatcom County canines and their people the best doggone day ever!
TWO TEAMS WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY - Chris O
As Executive Director of the Whatcom Council on Aging, I have enjoyed a 31-year career leading three great non-profits and experiencing many strong partnerships during my tenure, but our Meals on Wheels & More programs collaboration with Dewey Griffin Subaru is truly a special one. On Thursday, May 30th our Meals on Wheels & More staff joined me for a visit with Dewey Griffin Subaru GM Morgan Wheadon, Love Promise Coordinator Amy Seidel, several members of the Dewey Griffin team, and representatives from Subaru of America. We knew we would be receiving a check from their Share the Love Campaign, but I was honestly choked up when Morgan surprised us with a $47,000 contribution to help us ensure no senior in our community goes hungry. The $47,000 check was the largest in our twelve-year partnership, and we are so appreciative of the Dewey Griffin teams significant work to make this gift possible. Their passion inspired me to share a few other numbers: · 2 awesome teams working together to impact the community! · 270,146 meals delivered or served by Meals on Wheels and More in 2023! · 67,525 miles on the Meals on Wheels & More Subaru as it helps deliver meals throughout Whatcom County · 600 shelf stable emergency meal boxes sorted and packed in the Dewey Griffin Subaru show room, which were delivered to our clients insuring they have food in case of inclement weather · 9 rolls of packing tape from the Parts Department when we ran out and needed to finish sealing all the boxes! · 14 days that Dewey Griffin Subaru stored our meal boxes until we could deliver them all · A record 1,044 participants at 2023 Senior Day in the Park, where the energetic Dewey Griffin team regularly volunteers and helps us serve lunch to hungry seniors! · 1 great friend in Dewey Griffin Subaru This partnership is special because the relationship goes far beyond financial support The Dewey Griffin team truly cares about the seniors we serve and our greater community. They roll up their sleeves and volunteer alongside us. They use their radio advertising to promote our program and other peer non-profits doing important work. Thank you to Allen Meyer, Morgan, Amy and the entire Dewey Griffin Subaru team for all they do. We are truly blessed to count them among our best friends.
RUN4KIDS - KERI K
Dear Subaru: I want to thank you for being the kind of international company that supports local communities. As an Executive Director of a small nonprofit organization, your empathy and financial support are appreciated. Rebound Families has offered support to children, teens, and adults impacted by trauma for over 27 years. We have noticed an alarming increase of services post covid, as resources have diminished. Each time I walk in the door of Dewey Griffin Subaru I am met with a smile from every single employee I meet. These smiles are contagious, and each time I leave, I know that there are still good people in the world. The $2,000.00 donated to Rebound Families from Dewey Griffin Subaru will go directly to the children Rebound Families serves. Specifically, we will offer for the first time post Covid, our renowned Ray of Hope Summer Camp. This 4 week camp is designed specifically for children ages 5-10 years old who are experiencing trauma, and whose personal stories would bring you to your knees. Currently, over 70% of Whatcom County's school age children are experiencing traumas such as drug/alcohol abuse in the home, neglect, sexual and physical abuse, home insecurity, lack of employment, incarceration, and the list goes on. Let that sink in, 70%. Ray of Hope will meet children where they are, respond to their intense emotions with compassion, and teach them how to identify their feelings, engage in disagreements without violence, and learn how to become kind. These are skills lost or untaught in their homes because the adults around them are in survival mode, or are skills that online schooling for two years could not address. Typical camps for school agers have a 1/20 adult/child ratio. Ray of Hope offers a ratio of 1/5. We are trauma-informed practitioners who will not abandon children that society often kicks out due to, "behavior problems." It is gritty work, but we feel called to it. A 1/5 adult child ratio, with licensed counselors present costs a tremendous amount of money. Dewey Griffin's financial backing gives us hope to move forward in our audacious goal of offering a camp that provides safety, fun, and learning to children who need it most. Dewey Griffin sponsored our RUN4KIDS 5k Family Fun Run in which 70 local racers participated, all to support local kids who need to attend our Ray of Hope Camp just a few months from now. Amy and her co-workers have been a joy to work with, and provide a listening ear and a willing heart. Rebound Families feels fortunate to work in tandem with Dewey Griffin Subaru in strengthening our community. Keri Smith, M.Ed Executive Director Rebound Families
TRIVIA BEE - TAMI J
To the Dewey Griffin Subaru team: On Thursday, April 18, 2024 - 38 teams of three (and their cheerleading squads) crowded into the Alsan Depot on State Street in Bellingham for the Whatcom Literacy Council's 28th Annual Trivia Bee. Dubbed by some as the "funnest" Fundraiser in Whatcom County, friends of literacy (including a team from Dewey Griffin) competed for the right to take home the coveted Troggen Trophy. The weather was glorious, the excitement was palpable and after everyone got settled with their favorite beverage, the games began. Four rounds of lightning fast trivia later, KAFE radio host, Scotty Van Dryer declared the "Stone's Throw Tiebreakers" the winner of this year's event. But of course the real winner of the event was the Whatcom Literacy Council which raised over $10,000 to help the hundreds of adult learners we serve. Our mission is to empower adults to achieve their goals and improve their lives through literacy. We train and support volunteers to teach their neighbors, giving them the tools to become more employable and take better care of their families. Your gift/donation of $500 through the "Subaru Love Promise" program helps us offer FREE one-to-one tutoring and small group classes for adults who are motivated to learn. With the help of the Whatcom Literacy Council, local parents are learning to communicate with their children's teachers and neighbors are getting their GEDs. Each and every adult learner comes to us with a unique goal: getting a driver's license, passing the citizenship test, or simply having the ability to read to their grandchildren. Literacy opens doors and truly changes lives. The Whatcom Literacy Council is honored and grateful for your support. On behalf of our many volunteers and most especially the hundreds of learners whose lives are changed forever through the gift of literacy, THANK YOU Subaru, and THANK YOU Dewey Griffin for your support and commitment to making our community stronger. Gratefully, Tami Johnson Associate Director Whatcom Literacy Council 360-739-8332
COAT DRIVE - Cheri W
Opened in October of 2000, Hope House was formed to be a multi-service center---offering multiple items and services in one location so that those of our neighbors in need could access them more easily. We are a Basic Needs provideroffering those items that our clients cannot purchase with food stamps. Life is hard when you have to choose between paying your rent and buying diapers! We aim to help in any way we can. Our clients include: single parents, homeless men, women and children, grandparents raising their grandchildren, new immigrants, migrant workers and the working poor of our county. Hope House offers clothing, shoes, dishes, pans, towels, sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, diapers and wipes as well as emergency food. All free of charge, through the generosity of our loyal donors and their community support. We also offer back-to-school kits, Christmas gifts and decorations and post-partum baskets for new mothers. Throughout the year, each season brings a new challenge and needs. Living in the Northwest, jackets and coats are necessary from early fall to late spring. It is particularly hard to spend the night outside, as do many of our homeless clientsit is very, very cold. We spend the whole winter begging for coats and blankets, and Dewey Griffin heard us! They proceeded to have a coat drive for us, which brought in many much needed warm coats for our very cold clients. Dewey Griffin is well known in our community for their dedication to the people who live herehelping in so many ways with so many non-profits. We are honored that we were chosen to be one of them! Thank you so much, Dewey Griffin! ~Cheri Woolsey Hope House
Subaru Loves To Help with Blues Skies for Children and Operation Warm - Amy S
We could not do what we do with out the support of our community! And this is especially true of being able to meet the demand for high-quality, new shoes-which are expensive and challenging to source in bulk. The recent shoe donation from Dewey Griffin Subaru and Operation Warm not only provides critical inventory to our distribution pool, it also alleviates the strain on procuring bulk shoes from our staff! In 2023, we distributed over 1,110 pairs of shoes-32% more shoes than we have ever distributed. And We anticipate the needs will remain high in 2024. These shoes are a much-needed supplement to our low-inventory that will help us meet immediate demand while we continue to secure more shoes for our Back2School Boost to be held this summer. The mission of Blue Skies for Children is to raise hope and self esteem in young hearts and minds. A key factor in a child's self-esteem is the power of choice. When a child can find a pair of shoes that are not only comfortable, but also fit their personality, you can see them light up. Our Back2School Boost provides an opportunity for families experiencing homelessness, struggling financially, or are fostering children can "shop" for new items to prepare them for the coming school year. Providing the opportunity for children to select shoes that fit AND are stylish, helps build confidence and make children feel equal to their peers. There are not enough words to express how much we appreciate all the support we have received over many years from Dewey Griffin Subaru and the many incredible acts of generosity. The Blue Skies for Children Team thanks you with all our hearts. Sincerely, The Blue Skies for Children Team!
Meals on Wheels Holiday Meal Kits - Chris O
On November 10th, 2023, Dewey Griffin Subaru partnered with Meals on Wheels to host and assemble over 600 emergency meal boxes. The boxes contained approximately five days of shelf stable food and were distributed to homebound seniors throughout Whatcom County. Dewey Griffin Subaru opened their showroom to host the event, and set up an assembly line of tables, food, and volunteers. Dewey Griffin staff and many Meals on Wheels volunteers showed up in full force to make this all happen. Meals on Wheels is short on space, so Dewey Griffin Subaru was able to store 4 pallets of food for this event. This is the 12th year Dewey Griffin Subaru has partnered with Meals on Wheels. All the food was delivered to those in need and people were very happy and thankful to receive them. Thank you for all Dewey Griffins support. From accepting deliveries, storage, set up, recycling, emergency supplies such as packing tape, paper plates, and clean up, you and your team are amazing. We are blessed with partners who truly care. Thank you for being a hands-on leader and serving with us today.
Back to School - Caprice T
"It was absolutely incredible, easy from beginning to end and so friendly. My children are so excited about their new backpacks and shoes. When you walk in you automatically feel warm and everybody is really helpful and there is a lot for the kids to pick from. We're extremely grateful to be here today". - Danielle, Parent participating in Blue Skies for Children's Back to School Shoe and Backpack Distribution. This year Blue Skies for Children was able to hold a week-long distribution event at Christ the King Church, which enables us to be able to bring all of our shoe and backpack inventory to one location where families could drop-in when convenient. During this event, we were able to distribute over 500 pairs of shoes, 1,500 pairs of socks, and 500 backpacks, tripling the number of families we normally serve in a week! This event provided a unique "shopping" experience for families that included allowing children to try on a wide variety of shoes, select a backpack and take back-to-school photos. Many families also benefit by being able to bring their children with sensory issues into a safe shopping environment. One family has 3 sons that struggle with being able to select shoes in a traditional store where lights, noise, and other distractions can be overwhelming. We were able to pair each family with a volunteer that was able to work with them individually and support them with their anxieties. We would not have been able to provide enough shoes to hold this event without the generous support of Dewey Griffin Subaru. With your $2,500 in matching funds, we were able to raise another $2,900 to purchase 250 pairs of shoes. In addition, Dewey Griffin Subaru donated valuable radio time through ads, a live broadcast from the site of the distribution event, and an interview on KGMI's Community Connections broadcast. These promotions were instrumental in not only helping us secure more backpacks, shoes, and monetary donations, it helped us reach families that were not aware of our services. To date, we have already served 200 more children than in previous years. The mission of Blue Skies for Children is to raise hope and self-esteem in young hearts and minds. A key factor in a child's self-esteem is the power of choice. When a child can find a pair of shoes that are not only comfortable, but also fit their personality, you can see them light up! Financial support helps us purchase current styles in a variety of fashions so all children can find a pair that speaks to them. We are excited to say that this event was such a success that we are planning on changing our distribution model for future events so we are able to continue reaching more families!! There are not enough words to express how much we appreciate all of the support we have received over many years from Dewey Griffin Subaru and the many incredible acts of generosity. The Blue Skies for Children Team thanks you with all our hearts! Sincerely, The Blue Skies for Children Team
Successful Rescues! - Pat A
This year's National Make A Dog's Day! was a very good one for us-Alternative Humane Society of Whatcom County. Our local Subaru dealer, Dewey Griffin Subaru, hosted an Adopt-A-Thon on the showroom floor on October 22, providing some fun and interesting times for dogs, employees, and potential adopters! As we all suspect, cats could care less, so they slept through most of it! Three puppies, two adult dogs, and 5 cats/kittens provided the entertainment! One cat went home with a new family that day (the adoption had been in process already) and all five dogs and the other four kittens have been successfully adopted! We are thankful for the partnership we have with Dewey Griffin and want to acknowledge them for the amazing job they do supporting nonprofits in our community on behalf of the Subaru Loves Pets and Share The Love Campaigns! Our County loves the way Subaru give back to their communities!
BLUE SKIES FOR CHILDREN'S BACK TO SCHOOL SHOE AND BACKPACK DISTRIBUTION - Caprice T
Love Promise Letter It was absolutely incredible, easy from beginning to end and so friendly. My children are so excited about their new backpacks and shoes. When you walk in you automatically feel warm and everybody is really helpful and there is a lot for the kids to pick from. Were extremely grateful to be here today! Danielle, Parent participating in Blue Skies for Childrens Back-to-School Shoe & Backpack Distribution This year Blue Skies for Children was able to hold a week-long distribution event at Christ the King Church, which enabled us to be able to bring all of our shoe and backpack inventory to one location where families could drop-in when convenient. During this event we were able to distribute over 500 pairs of shoes, 1,500 pairs of socks, and 500 backpacks, tripling the number of families we normally serve in a week! This event provided a unique shopping experience for families that included allowing children to try on a wide variety of shoes, select a backpack and take back-to-school photos. Many families also benefit by being able to bring their children with sensory issues into a safe shopping environment. One family has 3 sons that struggle with being able to select shoes in a traditional store where lights, noise, and other distractions can be overwhelming. We were able to pair each family with a volunteer that was able to work with them individually and support them with their anxieties. We would not have been able provide enough shoes to hold this event without the generous support of Dewey Griffin Subaru. With your $2,500 in matching funds, we were able to raise another $2,900 to purchase 250 pairs of shoes. In addition, Dewey Griffin Subaru donated valuable radio time through ads, a live-broadcast from the site of the distribution event, and an interview on KGMIs Community Connections broadcast. These promotions were instrumental in not only helping us secure more backpack, shoe, and monetary donations; it helped us reach families that were not aware of our services. To date, we have already served 200 more children than in previous years. The mission of Blue Skies for Children is to raise hope and self-esteem in young hearts and minds. A key factor in a childs self-esteem is the power of choice. When a child can find a pair of shoes that are not only comfortable, but also fit their personality, you can see them light up. Financial support helps us purchase current styles in a variety of fashions so all children can find a pair that speaks to them. We are excited to say that this event was such a success that we are planning on changing our distribution model for future events so we are able to continue reaching more families! There are not enough words to express how much we appreciate all the support we have received over many years from Dewey Griffin Subaru and the many incredible acts of generosity. The Blue Skies for Children Team thanks you with all our hearts. Sincerely, The Blue Skies for Children Team!
Leukemia Lymphoma Blanket Donation - Carol B
Our sincerest thanks to everyone at Dewey Griffin Subaru, in partnership with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society®(LLS), for the donation of the blankets for our patients at the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center. This is the sixth year that we have had the opportunity to give the gift of kindness and warmth to our patients. As the weather starts to cool, starting in October, our radiation patients will receive the gift of one of the beautiful new blankets. Daily radiation can render our patients quite chilly as the radiation builds up on their bodies, doing its job in the fight against their cancer. Our radiation therapist will present each patient currently on treatment with a blanket and a message of hope card. We have witnessed hundreds of smiles and hugs that are generated between our patients and the staff who have the privilege of giving out the blankets. Truly, I'm not sure who gets more happiness from the blankets - the giver or the receiver. Over the years of giving the Subaru blankets, we have gifted them to homeless patients in our community who are receiving treatment for cancer. We know that receiving a clean, warm blanket from people who care about them, could be the greatest act of kindness they have known in a very long time. On behalf of the staff at the Cancer Center and the patients undergoing treatment for cancer here in Bellingham, it is with deep gratitude and appreciation that I send this letter to all of you. Respectfully, Carol Brumet, Outreach Coordinator St. Joseph Medical Center Cancer Center
Whatcom Million Trees Project - Linda H
Whatcom Million Trees Project sends a grateful THANK YOU to Dewey Griffen Subaru for its $2,500 matching donation to our 501c(3) non-profit during May, 2023. Additionally, your retailer generously paid for air time on local radio stations and featured us on your large electronic reader board at the retailer. Nearly $14,000 was donated by individuals to our non-profit during May, much more than usual. We're sure that Dewey Griffen Subaru's co-promotion had a significant role to play in that increase! Your co-promotion and matching funds helps us to build greater awareness and support our three-part mission -- to plant and protect one-million trees in Whatcom County, and to connect people via fun hands-on work parties and community events to the multiple benefits trees bring for the health and climate resilience of our local communities. The funds will be applied to specific WMTP projects in local Greenways and parks -- to plant new trees and to remove English ivy that threatens all trees. Thank you again for your support of Whatcom Million Trees Project. We hope we can synergize again in the future.
