Subaru of Cherry Hill has become a “granting Make-A-Wish party” for a child in need through its partnership with Make-A-Wish New Jersey.
For those involved, it goes beyond the sale of a car at Subaru of Cherry Hill.
Once and/or even twice a year, the dealership has transformed into a “granting Make-A-Wish party” for a child in need through its partnership with Make-A-Wish New Jersey.
“It’s my favorite thing we do with them,” said sales manager Haris Nashed.
First there was Kabrina, 18, a cancer patient, whose wish to go to Hawaii was granted in 2022. The next year, 11-year-old Quinn, who suffered from a respiratory disorder, also made a wish to go to Hawaii. Last year, Erynn, 15 and suffering from a heart condition, wished to have a backyard shed transformed into a recording studio. The same year, 16-year-old Jaelyn, who suffered from kidney disease, also got her wish to visit Hawaii.
The average cost of a wish is $12,000, according to Rosemarie Farr, vice president of development at Make-A-Wish New Jersey.
“We’re tasked with raising all the funds for the grant wishes that we grant every year and also cover our operating expenses,” she explained. “Every dollar we raise goes directly to granting a wish and the operating expenses of the organization.
“We get no government support and we get no other assistance … Everything we raise is through individuals, corporations, foundations and members throughout New Jersey.”
That’s where Subaru of Cherry Hill comes in. The Subaru Share the Love Event Campaign is an annual program that runs through the holiday season, from late November to early January, Nashed said.
“For every car sale, the customer gets to choose a local charity that they want to support,” he noted. “A retailer, that would be us, chooses two local charities for the customers, Make-A-Wish New Jersey being one of them.”
The amount donated fluctuates every year with each sale, Nashed revealed, with Subaru of America matching up to a certain dollar amount for each charity. And for every repair order at Subaru of Cherry Hill, there is a $5 donation toward a local charity during the same time period.
Subaru of Cherry Hill presented Make-A-Wish New Jersey with donations of $20,000-plus from the 2024 campaign for upcoming wishes on May 28.
Make-A-Wish America has been in partnership with Subaru during the Share the Love Campaign since 2011.
- Subaru of America Share the Love Campaign’s total to all charities (Make-A-Wish America, National Parks Foundation, ASPCA, Meals on Wheels America) since 2011 is $320 million-plus.
- Subaru of America Share the Love Campaign totals to Make-A-Wish America since 2011 are $38 million plus.
- The Subaru of America Share the Love Campaign total to Make-A-Wish New Jersey since 2011 is $2.8 million plus.
- For four years, Subaru of Cherry Hill has selected Make-A-Wish New Jersey as a fifth charity, where donations go directly to Make-A-Wish New Jersey. That totals $60,000 plus.
“Partnering with Subaru of Cherry Hill is really important,” Farr offered. “It’s important (because) those funds grant wishes for your neighbors, your co-workers, local children and families and the community.
“That’s why we are so grateful to (Subaru of) Cherry Hill for helping us do that,” Farr pointed out. “We are also able to show them how we use those funds by bringing those local-ish families and their stories here (to the dealership) to let them know what they are giving … (These funds are providing) a life-changing experience to these families.
“They can see it,” Farr observed. “It’s tangible. We love it, too. That’s our favorite part: the wish reveal.”
Typically, Subaru of Cherry Hill partners with Make-A-Wish New Jersey once or twice a year with a wish grant.
“We identify a wish to use with those funds (donated by Subaru of Cherry Hill),” Farr said, and a wish party is then organized to highlight the child’s wish, thanks to their partners Subaru of Cherry Hill.
Dealers contribute anywhere from $100 to $150 per car and Subaru of America contributes $250 per car, Nashed said.
“For us, this is how we move our mission forward,” Farr emphasized. “We couldn’t do it without partners like Subaru, and especially the local dealerships who choose us as a fifth charity so that people who buy a car can donate and have those funds go directly (to Make -A-Wish New Jersey).
“They truly are a partner and it has been a long-term relationship,” Farr said. “It’s very important to us and we are extremely grateful for that.”
And for Subaru of Cherry Hill, “it’s always a pleasure,” Nashed offered. “This is probably the best way this dealership gives back to our community.”
At the granting wish parties, those at the dealership “get to see the kind of look of surprise on the wish child’s face.”
“A lot of times we get to hear from the families about their story, which is always moving,” Nashed added. “We definitely have Make-A-Wish New Jersey to thank for connecting us with our local community and to be able to give the kids something they’ve always wished for.”
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