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 retailer 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 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 of our customers and neighbors.
What is the Subaru Love Promise?
Subaru and our retailers believe in making the world a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is our vision of respecting all people. This is our commitment to show love and respect to our customers and to work to make a positive impact in the world.
How is Bill Rapp Subaru dedicated locally to the Love Promise?
Bill Rapp Subaru believes in making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work. We stand behind the Love Promise commitment by remaining involved in our community throughout the year.
SPCA
McKinley Brighton Elementary
Clear Path
Upstate Cancer Center
Love Promise Stories from Bill Rapp Subaru
Subaru and Bill Rapp Subaru believe in making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work. We uphold that belief through our Love Promise Community Commitment. Every month, we select inspiring stories from customers and partners from around our area who strive to support our collective commitment and feature them here
Bill Rapp Subaru Teams Up to Support Local Community - Karen D
Imagine going 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 Syracuse, this is a harsh reality. Helping others strengthens communities, which is why Bill Rapp Subaru is partnering with Operation Warm®, a national nonprofit focused on connecting children with the resources they need to thrive. Through this partnership and other Subaru Loves to Help® efforts, Subaru and retailers like Bill Rapp Subaru have helped nearly 900,000 children and adults in urgent need. On 01/13/2025, Bill Rapp Subaru donated 120 shoes/socks to We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach Inc. These essential items not only help keep children protected, warm, and dry, it can have a significant impact on a child's mental and emotional well-being.
Loved, Appreciated, and Seen, by David's Refuge - Christine and Brian P
A very special thank you to Bill Rapp Subaru for supporting David’s Refuge!!!! Our journey started in January of 2016 with a respite weekend at Geneva on the Lake. We met amazing people over the weekend and found so much common ground. It was so nice to be in a room full of people who understood all that comes with being a caregiver. We didn’t have to explain what acronyms meant, how we feel when our child is struggling, how challenging it is as the caregiver, and the strain caregiving puts on a marriage. We feel loved, appreciated and seen in ways we had not been prior. Our marriage was in the background with all we had to do for our son and general life circumstances. David’s Refuge sponsors have given us the time and space to dedicate to each other and our relationship. We have gone each year since and have greatly appreciated the moments we have shared as a couple spending time together, as well as spending time with others who are in the caregiving role. Beauty of Mom events, parent groups, day retreats, and art therapy mini-retreats have helped us unwind and realize we are more than just a caregiver and to be mindful of our own self-care. Without David’s Refuge our marriage would not be as strong as it is, last as long as it has (21 years this August!!!), and we would be very different individuals than we are right now. We are so grateful to Bill Rapp Subaru for assisting David’s Refuge provide what they do to caregivers. We are seen, heard, loved, and cared for.
David's Refuge - Jaime P
One of the non-profits you support is David's Refuge which is an organization that has made such an impact on not only my family but also another family that is near and dear to my heart as well as dozen's of families we have met on our respite weekends. These weekends are made possible by generous donors such as Bill Rapp and we are so very grateful. Parenting a special needs child has a variety of challenges, a huge one being the ability to partake in self-care and time away. My first marriage to my son's father cracked under the strain of that after many years of the two of us being alone in this journey and having minimal support. In 2017 I found myself a single parent and very much alone. When I met my current husband, I knew I had to find a way to make sure history did not repeat itself which led me to David's Refuge. Our yearly respite weekends paired with all the other events they host allow us to connect and have some alone time we may not otherwise be able to make happen. This year we went to Tailwater Lodge and my husband was able to get in some much needed time fishing on the Salmon River while we also spent quality time together. These weekends mean the world to us so we just want to thank you for what you do.
The Rainbow - Danielle H
I'd like to start off by telling you just a little about our family! My name is Danielle and my husband, Chris, and I have been married for 23 years. We are the proud parents of 3 amazing humans. Nadia is our musical, colorful, responsible and brave 19 year old. Isaiah is the artistic, thoughtful, smart, sensitive and loyal 17 year old middle child and Talia is 13 and our free spirited, dancer/performer who is kind, funny and creative. We soon learned there is no instruction manual for becoming a parent! We never dreamed then, though, just how challenging it would become, especially to raise and nurture children with special needs. Nadia and Isaiah are 22 months apart and having them both share an Autism diagnosis early on was no easy feat for our family. We felt lonely and scared, along with the mounting stress of how we could provide best for them? How could we manage all of this? And most scary of all, what would their futures be like? All those years back, we were all still, in some ways, learning about Autism as a science and its behavioral, emotional, and cognitive implications. Our communities were not overflowing at that time with support groups, enriching opportunities or networking for families that were super well known. We began the hunt, like many families sharing our needs, for safe places, accepting and caring people & supports, places where we were understood and cherished no matter how tired, stressed or worried we were. It took some time and some fight, but we started to find those places to support our kids. The amazing Jowonio, Sensory friendly events all around the community. Sports opportunities and social events created for our kids and their families started to emerge and it felt like our kids and sometimes our family was finally seen and understood. What we didn't even realize what we were sorely lacking, sadly, was David's Refuge. Because we didn't know that divorce rates in our special needs' communities were higher than those with typical families. Or that Special needs families can sometimes struggle with shame, guilt, anxiety, burnout and depression. Or that the feeling of isolation can create not wanting to leave your home or work to create opportunities to build a sense of connection with others. But David's Refuge came along and reminded us that we were worth it. That we, as caregivers, were important too, and that we mattered. They reminded us that it is ok to take time for ourselves and that it was necessary for our own growth and stamina. They have been so very impactful in our lives and our community. They have helped hundreds of families remember their worth. To remember that they matter and most importantly, in my humble opinion, highlight the importance of having hope and a sense of belonging. I believe that these 2 values are what help any person with any need, young or mature, believe they can make it through anything that is set before them. It is my belief that when you feel that you are not alone, and that others are there, both next to you, and also in the background if you should ever need them, that that is what keeps us going. I also, truly from the bottom of my heart, trust that when we hold on to Hope, that we better move through the journey. Hope doesn't always mean that our challenges will be "fixed". Or that things will magically be perfect, because we all know that is not true. But Hope is what we find when we have a few moments to ourselves to recharge and remember our worth. Or when we use our own obstacles and bumps to help someone else to overcome or not feel isolated in theirs. We have all heard that a Rainbow comes after the storm. That seems so concrete and for many of us, the storm doesnt just end and go away. What is more real is there are rainbows IN the storm. Plenty of times it has been still raining and we see a rainbow shining brightly through. This is exactly what David's Refuge has done for us. They have become a rainbow just when we needed it. To provide us a moment away. To take care of us. To see us and to remind us we matter. Thank you David's Refuge for all you do. You have given us Hope and Belonging. Our family is eternally grateful to your organization and staff. And thank you, Bill Rapp Subaru, for supporting DR and helping to provide our family with some beautiful moments. Thank you both for your Rainbows!!
Friends Forever Animal Rescue - Nancy Y
Hi my name is Nancy. Recently, my husband and I had the pleasure of adopting this wonderful rescue dog from Friends Forever Animal Rescue, and we couldn’t be happier with our new family member! From the very beginning, their team was exceptionally supportive, providing us with all the necessary information and answering our numerous questions with patience and kindness. Their dedication to ensuring that each animal finds a loving home is truly commendable. We are very appreciative of the fact that Bill Rapp Subaru chose to partner with Friends Forever Animal Rescue through the Subaru Love Promise program. Their efforts to raise awareness about the importance of animal rescue through sponsoring a successful adoption event made a significant impact. Thank you to Bill Rapp Subaru and Friends Forever Animal Rescue for your unwavering commitment to animal welfare in our community. We are all the better for it!
Friends Forever Animal Rescue - Aimee B
Hello, my name is Aimee and I am Chief of fundraising for Friends Forever Animal Rescue. Friends Forever Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and NYS registered animal rescue group (RR426) dedicated to helping the stray, sick and abandoned animals in Central New York. We started as a small group of foster homes and now we have grown into a rescue with it's own facility that houses our many pets looking for a new forever home. We can't thank Subaru enough for choosing us as their organization for Subaru Loves Pets Event. Bill Rapp Subaru in Syracuse NY teamed up with us to have an Adoption event and because of that we were able to adopt out dogs, kittens and a bunch of others put in an application as well. One of our long term dogs finally met his forever home at this event. So thank you again Subaru for making this happen!
Subaru hosts Adoption Event for Friends Forever Animal Rescue - Erin M
Hello, my name is Erin Mere and I have been a foster and volunteer for Friends Forever Animal Rescue for over two years. My favorite way to volunteer is on adoption Saturdays. The rescue was invited to host an adoption event at Bill Rapp Subaru in Syracuse. It was a very successful day with four adoptions, many submissions for applications to adopt and new volunteers applying to join the rescue. Friends Forever Animal Rescue was created over 20 years ago by one individual. Over the last five years the rescue has rapidly grown to include a dedicated team of volunteers that have helped rescue over 1000 animals each year. I truly appreciate Bill Rapp Subaru and their entire staff joining our mission to help find new homes for stray, sick and abandoned animals. Saving Lives One Paw @ A Time!
Subaru Brings Comfort to Upstate Cancer Center - Christine B
Each June, Upstate Cancer Center excitedly awaits the donation of several soft & cozy blankets from Bill Rapp Subaru as part of the “Subaru Loves to Care” ® program. This year didn’t disappoint as the team came and brought boxes and boxes of the beautiful blankets for Cancer Center patients. The patients, too, were thrilled to receive the blankets. Each one was met with smiles and words of thanks, as the blankets provided much-needed comfort during their treatments. Remarkably, all the blankets were distributed the same day they were donated. The blankets not only provided physical warmth but also a sense of hope and support from the community. We so much appreciate Subaru’s continued generosity and everyone who helps make moments like these possible!
Children Coat Drive - Al-amin M
‘Hello, my name is Al-amin Muhammad, Executive Director of We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach Inc. Our mission is to deliver high-energy messages that encourage people to live up to their full potential by breaking the cycle of homelessness, children's poverty, and criminality. On January 27, 2024 we had the honor to host our 5th annual children’s coat giveaway partnership with Bill Rapp's Subaru Syracuse dealership We have passed out 150 children's coats to our community in Syracuse, New York, one of the poorest cities and ranked number three in children's poverty in the United States. The event was successful. Parents were emotional, and every parent left with a warm heart. Just want to take a moment to say thank you to Bill Rapp's Subaru Syracuse dealership for loving our community and helping us. We made a huge impact together on January 27. We gave hope and love to our community. Hopefully, we can collaborate again. Thank you so much for your kindness and support. Let’s Continue to make this world a better place. Thank you! Best Regards, Al-amin Muhammad Executive Director
Davids Refuge - Jessica D
Davids Refuge provides respite weekends and various programs for caregivers of those with special needs. Bill Rapp Subaru and the share the love campaign have a huge impact on the programs and respite weekends provided. It is amazing to see a company provide so much support!
