Evergreen Subaru is honored to be recognized for our commitment to the community in 2025.
We are honored to be nationally recognized by Subaru of America, Inc. for our dedication to living the Subaru Love Promise.
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.
What is the Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment?
At Evergreen 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 Evergreen Subaru dedicated locally to the Love Promise?
Our Love Promise can be seen in various partnerships with local charities and non-profits. We're grateful for the opportunity, not only to be a part of our community, but to serve it as well.
Greater Androscoggin Humane So, Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills
Androscoggin Land Trust
United Way of Androscoggin C, Auburn Middle School
Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine, The Public Theatre
Move Me Forward Foundation, Patrick Dempsey Cancer Center, Lisbon Emergency, Safe Voices
Love Promise Stories from Evergreen Subaru
Subaru and Evergreen 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
Evergreen Subaru Wins Award! - Barry D
Evergreen Subaru recently won the 2026 Cornerstone Partner Award from the United Way of Western Maine. The team at Evergreen Subaru team lead by Doug Weisz and Chris Dunn volunteer with multiple activities through out the year a few are; Back packs for Kids that help fill backpacks with school supplies. Operation warm that supply coats, shoes, gloves and hats for school age kids, Day of Volunteers. Volunteers spread out all over the community fixing hiking trail , cleaning up trash around public spaces, landscaping and cleaning community centers. The most amazing part is being the beneficiary of the Share the Love campaign. Evergreen Subaru is one of the community leaders in boots on the ground and hands in the dirt when it come to help in our community.
Evergreen Subaru Helps Montello Elementary School prepare for school year - Belinda D
In August 2026 Evergreen Subaru Volunteers help prepare the outdoor area for students along with faculty and staff at Montello Elementary School. The volunteers painted the play ground with exercise stencils encouraging students to be more active outdoor. The comprised of 9 calisthenics stations. On the paths around the school they also painted 4 yoga poses that help with stretching and relaxing. This helps the kids practice relaxation as they wait in line to go in to school. Emily Duggan of the Sun Journal says it best in her article about the volunteer day. 'We want kids to know they matter' Volunteers, staff use their summer to refresh Lewiston elementary school. By EMILY DUGGAN Staff Writer As the Montello Eagles soar back to school in Lewiston next week, they'll be welcomed by the collective efforts of teachers, community leaders and parents who revamped the school over the summer. Community volunteers from Evergreen Subaru in Auburn added the final touches to the playground Thursday, while on Friday a team of parents will make over the teachers' lounge. Throughout the summer, teams added fresh paint to the bathrooms, redesigned Montello's Eagle logo, freshened up the grounds at 407 East Ave. and repainted a mural. Principal Tiffany Sax emphasized that the community's investment and sense of pride in the school sets an example for the students. "We want kids to know they matter and to be able to see themselves in that way," Sax said. The volunteering started with the Parent Teacher Association. Parents coordinated tissue drives for tissue boxes, organized breakfasts for the teachers and sent thank-you cards to the staff. So when teachers asked if a few classrooms and bathrooms could have a fresh coat of paint, the parents organized teams to complete the tasks over the summer, as did the employees from Evergreen Subaru, who have volunteered at Montello for about two years. Barry Dean, the floor manager at Evergreen Subaru, explained that the dealership has an Adopt a School program to collect backpacks and supplies for students. Dean didn't want the efforts to stop there, so he assembled a team of volunteers, enough to show up every day in September and October of last year to read to students. They also helped decorate for the holidays. "My mom was a school teacher, so I understand the challenges. She's retired now, but I know that teachers do a lot and spend a lot of their own money, so if we can volunteer our time, it's better for us, better for our society, better that the kids are educated," Dean said. Thanks to the volunteers, the playground has a workout circuit where students can do pushups, yoga poses and, if they dare, burpees, which combine a squat, plank, pushup and jump. The goal is to give kids an outlet for energy and some exercise. Emily Duggan — 207-233-3356 eduggan@centralmaine.com
A Sanctuary in the Service Lane - Kevin C
The morning rush at the service center was usually a blur of ringing phones and clanking tools, but Jim had already carved out a quiet pocket of focus for a very specific appointment. Linda was on the schedule. Linda loves her car, tracking every rattle and hum with meticulous precision. But more importantly, Linda is highly immunocompromised. For her, a routine trip to the mechanic isn't just an inconvenience; it is a genuine, frightening health risk. Jim knew that the standard waiting room, with its revolving door of foot traffic, was completely out of the question. Before Linda even pulled onto the lot, Jim sprang into action. He personally selected the cleanest loaner vehicle available, wiped down the interior a second time just to be absolutely certain, and parked it directly out front. He left the engine running with the climate control set perfectly, creating a sealed, sterile oasis just for her. When Linda arrived, the anxiety of stepping out into a public space was palpable. The world is a daunting place when your immune system cannot protect you. But Jim was waiting. He guided her immediately to the pristine loaner car, allowing her to settle into the safety of the isolated cabin while the technicians took her vehicle into the shop. Then came the hardest part of any visit for a driver as detail oriented as Linda: the explanation of services. She had a long list of questions, each one requiring a thorough, thoughtful answer. Standing in the crisp air of the driveway, Jim held the repair order in his hands. He intentionally positioned himself several paces back from her rolled-down window—close enough to be heard clearly, but far enough away to guarantee an absolute barrier of safety. For the next twenty minutes, Jim didn't check his watch. He didn't glance back at the busy service desk. He stood at that exact, safe distance and went through the repair order line by line. He explained the diagnostics with immense patience, honoring her meticulous nature by treating every single one of her questions with the utmost respect. He didn't just tell her what they were doing; he made sure she felt completely comfortable with the work. When her car was finally ready and brought back around, Linda didn't just drive away with a well-running vehicle. She drove away with the profound relief of being truly seen and protected. Jim hadn't just serviced a car that day. By putting empathy ahead of efficiency, he turned a terrifying errand into a sanctuary of care, proving that the greatest customer service happens when you look out for the person behind the wheel.
United Way of Western Maine Backpack Program - Joleen B
Each year, United Way of Western Maine Backpack Program brings our community together to help local children start the school year ready to learn. This year, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and the dedication of many volunteers, we distributed approximately 2,500 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to children throughout Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties. We are especially grateful to Evergreen Subaru, a lead supporter of this year's program and longtime partner of United Way. Their continued commitment to our community - and to so many United Way initiatives - helps us turn generosity into meaningful impact. Together, we are helping ensure that more children across Western Maine have what they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Evergreen Shares The Love With Montello! - Taylor M
I am so happy to be able to share about our wonderful partnership with Evergreen Subaru! I am a teacher at Montello Elementary School in Lewiston, Maine. Evergreen Subaru has been a generous support over the last few years by selecting our school for the Adopt a School program. This year the Evergreen Team, led by Mr. Barry Dean, decided to become more involved and be sure their support was felt school wide. They started they year off right with a breakfast on our opening workshop day. We enjoyed coffee, doughnuts, conversation, and a great opening of the school year welcome from Mr. Dean. There were several Evergreen employees in attendance, all eager to welcome us back and thank us for the work we do. In October, Evergreen joined us in the classroom by participating in Bullying Prevention Month. They read selected books to every classroom in grades Pre-K through grade 3. Some volunteers made such strong bonds that they made their visit more regular, and some even joined us for special events! In December the volunteers were back, this time stretching their reading volunteer schedule to include grade 4. The reading theme centered around thankfulness, and the readings lead to great connections and conversations. We even got to experience a full circle moment with an Evergreen employee who was a student at Montello in their elementary years! I am so proud to teach at Montello and to have such a powerful community partnership with Evergreen Subaru. We thank each and every employee and volunteer for their support, and we look forward to the future opportunities that this partnership holds.
DROVE TO RANGELEY MAINE TO DROP OFF A LOANER CAR & PICKUP CUSTOMER'S CAR - CALLAHAN K
OUR RECEPTIONIST, AMY MARTIN, CAME IN ON HER DAY OFF TO DRIVE A LOANER CAR TO RANGELEY, MAINE AND PICKUP THE CUSTOMER'S CAR BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE HEAT AND THE CUSTOMER'S TRANSPORT PATIENTS TO THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, NEEDING HEAT. SHE DID NOT HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR INTO THE SHOP TO THEN DRIVE TWO HOURS EACH WAY FOR OUR CUSTOMER BUT SHE CARED ENOUGH TO DO IT ANYWAY.
We SOAR together - Tiffany S
At Montello Elementary, we believe every Eagle should feel lifted up, so they are able to S.O.A.R. This year, our community got a wonderful boost from our friends just down the road at Evergreen Subaru. The team at Evergreen Subaru kicked things off before kids even arrived, showing up to our back-to-school staff meeting with coffee, donuts, and big smiles. It wasn’t just the treats (though we loved those!): it was the feeling that someone outside our walls cares deeply about the work we do and the students we serve. Many Subaru staff members shared their personal connections to teaching, and it set the tone for the year: we’re in this together. In October, Evergreen Subaru came back to visit classrooms and share stories about courage and kindness during our anti-bullying month. There’s something really special about kids seeing community members step in to read stories that remind them: differences make us stronger, and we all deserve to feel safe and included. The message stuck with our Eagles, and reinforced one of the ways we S.O.A.R. as a school- by respecting all, regardless of differences. Then December rolled in, and so did our friends at Subaru, this time to read about gratitude. They helped our students slow down, notice the good around them, and say “thank you” with full hearts. Those moments of connection are tiny but powerful reminders of how love shows up in everyday ways. Together, Montello and Evergreen Subaru are proving that the Love Promise is more than words: it’s action, community, and the belief that every child can S.O.A.R., because we’re in this together!
Evergreen Subaru partners with Montello Elementary School - Chantal D
In the showroom of Evergreen Subaru in Auburn, the sounds of the day are predictable: the ring of telephones, the hum of engines in the service bay, and the click of keyboards finalizing paperwork. It is a world of adults, driven by schedules and targets. But on certain mornings, a few team members grab a different kind of gear. They aren't reaching for keys or wrenches; they are reaching for picture books. They leave the lot, cross the bridge over the Androscoggin River, and head into Lewiston. Their destination isn't a customer’s driveway, but the colorful, bustling hallways of Montello Elementary School. A Different Kind of Tune-Up When the Evergreen team walks into Montello, the dynamic shifts instantly. The dealership polos that fit on the sales floor suddenly look charmingly out of place amidst finger paintings, cubbies labeled with first names, and rugs decorated with the alphabet. This is the Evergreen Subaru Loves Learning initiative in action, but to the students, it’s simply "Story Time." There is something undeniably heartwarming about watching a car expert—someone used to explaining the intricacies of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive—sit down on a tiny, plastic chair that puts their knees at their chest. The room goes quiet. Twenty pairs of wide, expectant eyes look up. And then, the book opens. The Engine of Imagination For the next thirty minutes, the dealership fades away. There are no test drives, only dragons. There are no credit checks, only hungry caterpillars and bears who lost their hats. To the children of Montello Elementary, these visitors aren't salespeople or sales managers; they are narrators of adventure. They see the connection: When a child points at a picture and asks a question, the reader pauses. They engage. They listen. They see the joy: The room fills with giggles when the reader does a funny voice for a character. They see the importance: By simply showing up, Evergreen Subaru sends a silent but powerful message to these kids: Reading is important. You are important. Your imagination matters. Evergreen Subaru knows that a community is built on more than just commerce. It is built on connection. By partnering with Montello Elementary, they are investing in the most high-performance engine of all: a child’s mind. When the team members return to the dealership in Auburn, stepping back into the world of adults, they often carry a little bit of that classroom magic back with them. They know that while selling cars helps people get where they need to go today, reading to a child helps them get where they need to go for the rest of their lives.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a Love Promise Story for the children it serves - Jennifer C
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) programs, and my Share the Love Promise Story, is about many children and the support and love they receive from volunteer Bigs, and their community leaders such as Evergreen Subaru. For over 120 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) has provided children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships. The Androscoggin programs are vital in an area where 43 languages and dialects are spoken, and poverty and insecurity abound. Bigs, from Bates College, mentor children or Littles at local public schools. Most Bates Bigs are in the program for multiple years, and new Bigs come through enthusiastic referrals from current participants who talk about their love and happiness being a mentor to their Littles. Bigs are screened with in-depth interviews, thorough background and reference checks. Training is a vital part of the process for safety and protocols, and to make sure that these students know that it is a time and an emotional commitment in a community unlike any that they have been exposed to, with children that have experienced various adversities that require sensitivity and confidentiality. Match devotion and love is clear by what the Littles say to me: "She IS my real sister;” "She is more than a friend, she is my family;" "He’s like a real brother, and it’s nice to have, because all I have at home are sisters and they are a pain;” “He is kind, and makes me feel good;” “I trust her because she makes me feel safe with her;” “I like the way he is with me, and he teaches me games. And this week he taught me how to do a handshake properly.” The matches have fun together, playing board games, doing crafts, and most importantly sharing about their day and week. Positive results include increased self-esteem, self-confidence, doing better in school, healthier relationships, higher life aspirations, and these children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. A Big reflected- “So far, the experience with my Little has been unexpected – but in the best way possible. My Little has been through more harm than a 10 year old should go through in her life, but despite this, she is a really strong girl. At first, she was very stand-offish, but every week our relationship grows stronger, and it is adorable (and heartwarming) when she began to introduce me as her “Big Sister.” Although my goal is to help her, she is helping me just as much. She is teaching me a lot about what I want to do after college and how I can improve myself every day…” An Assistant Principal stated “…Over the past years I have been fortunate enough to witness so many of our students reap the benefits of this program. They look forward to the day of the week that their “Bigs” are coming to school and are sad to see them go at the end of the day…It’s a special partnership that tremendously benefits our students and I believe is impactful for our Bates students as well. In particular, I would like to touch upon a special connection that one of our students has been able to make with his Big…This is a student that started off the school year struggling to maintain in his classroom, having episodes of anger, and disengaged with his learning... From the moment that this student was introduced to his Bates Big you could clearly see that it was going to be something special. The compassion, patience, and good humor of this particular Big is the perfect balance of characteristics that our young student needed in a mentor. His classroom teacher stated that there is a remarkable difference in this student… I have been able to observe, firsthand, the special connection that these two, and other matches have. I truly believe that this program has been able to turn around this young man’s school year… In closing, I would again just like to highlight how much Big Brothers Big Sisters means to our school and students. So many of our students are fortunate enough to reap the rewards of this program. To see students come back from time spent with their Bigs with a smile on their face and a new level of engagement is extremely powerful...One of our main missions at school is to create an environment where students feel safe, loved, and respected. Without a doubt, this program supports that mission.” I love my BBBS role, for almost 10 years, interacting with community, schools, and most especially with the matches– the children and their Bigs. Sharing a Love Promise Story – is what Big Brothers Big Sisters is all about, and it’s not just one love story, or the promise of one- it’s the reality of the love and care shared between all BBBS matches. I am blessed to be able to share love and promise of a brighter future with so many children in need of support, along with the Bigs who make life-changing relationships with their Littles.
Evergreen Subaru Supports The Dempsey Challenge - Chris D
The air in Auburn, Maine, changes in September. Just as the maples along the Androscoggin River begin to blush with the first hints of autumn gold, a different kind of energy descends on the city. It is an energy born of resilience, mixed with a touch of nerves and a massive amount of hope. It is time for the Dempsey Challenge. For thousands of participants, this isn't just a weekend of physical exertion; it is a pilgrimage. They are breaking out their inner athletes—dusting off bicycles, lacing up running shoes, and pinning on bib numbers—not for personal glory, but to make life better for people impacted by cancer. And right there beside them, quietly ensuring that the road ahead is safe, is Evergreen Subaru. More Than Just a Dealership. To the casual observer, a car dealership and a cancer care center might seem like unlikely partners. One deals in steel and engines, the other in healing and hope. But in Auburn, the connection runs deep. Evergreen Subaru understands that the Dempsey Center offers a sanctuary where those fighting cancer can find comfort, completely free of charge. They also understand that the Challenge is the fuel that keeps those doors open. But writing a check is one thing; showing up on the road is another. As the sun rises on the morning of the Challenge, the streets fill with a sea of riders and runners. The atmosphere is electric, charged with the memory of loved ones lost and the celebration of survivors standing tall. However, a 10, 25, or 65-mile ride through the rolling hills of Maine is no small feat. Tires go flat. Chains break. Legs cramp. The physical and emotional exhaustion can hit a rider all at once, leaving them stranded miles from home. This is where the SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles come in. Every year, Evergreen Subaru empties its lot. They deploy a fleet of Outbacks, Foresters, and Crosstreks, transforming them from showroom models into mobile lighthouses of safety. They are the "sweepers" and the guardians, patrolling the course with flashers blinking and trunks loaded with water, tools, and spare parts. The Drive to Care The partnership between Evergreen Subaru and the Dempsey Center is a testament to the idea that we all have a role to play in the fight against cancer. The Athletes bring the sweat and determination. The Dempsey Center brings the healing and expertise. Evergreen Subaru brings the reliability—the assurance that no matter how hard the road gets, or how steep the hill, someone is right behind you, ready to help you finish the race. When the last rider crosses the finish line in Lewiston/Auburn, and the total fundraising numbers are revealed, the shiny Subaru SAG vehicles quietly return to the dealership. But the mud on their tires and the dust on their bumpers tell the real story: that in this community, love is an action, and hope is a road we travel together.
