Did Fiesta Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
We are honored to be nationally recognized by Subaru of America, Inc. for our dedication to living the Subaru Love Promise.
We have been recognized for staying committed to our community using the principles of HEART: Honesty, Empathy, Appreciation, and Respect to earn your Trust.
Here at Fiesta Subaru, we love making a positive impact on the lives of all of our customers, employees, and neighbors. We thank you for your support.
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.
At Fiesta 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:
Did Fiesta Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
SUBMIT A STORYProviding comfort, hope, and confidence to children in urgent need
Subaru and its retailers partner with Operation Warm® to visit local homeless shelters and support agencies to provide children with brand-new necessities like coats, shoes, and socks.
These essential items not only help keep children protected, warm, and dry, they can also have a significant impact on a child’s mental and emotional well-being.
Through this partnership and other historical Subaru Loves to Help efforts, Subaru and retailers like us will have supported over 1 million children and adults in urgent need nationwide.
At Subaru, we believe what we leave behind is a reflection of who we are. That’s why Subaru and our retailers partner with the Arbor Day Foundation (TM) to provide and distribute 100,000 regionally appropriate trees across the country. We’re proud to establish the largest corporate tree distribution ever. Through this and other Subaru Loves the Earth initiatives, Subaru and our retailers have helped distribute and plant over 1.1 million trees.
Subaru believes we should all have a chance to lead a healthy life. That’s why for over 10 years, Subaru and its retailers like us have partnered with Blood Cancer United® and our local hospital to give warm blankets and encouraging messages of hope, written by our employees and customers, to support our community members living with cancer. Through our combined efforts during this partnership, we have supported over 550,000 cancer patients nationwide. Together, we are proud to be Blood Cancer United’s largest automotive donor.
Subaru and its retailers, like us, are continuing our support of education and high-needs schools in our communities through Subaru Loves Learning(R) by providing teachers across the country with funding to purchase the school supplies and resources they know are needed to help students thrive in the classroom. Through our partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, Subaru and its retailers have supported more than 950,000 students nationwide and are proud to be their largest corporate supporter.
Subaru believes all pets deserve a loving home. That's why retailers like us partner with our local animal welfare organization every October to provide direct financial assistance through a grant distributed by the ASPCA® and host pet events to help animals find loving homes. Through our partnership with local and national organizations, Subaru has donated over $70 million, supporting the rescue, adoption, and health of over 700,000 animals. We're proud to be the largest corporate donor to the ASPCA.
Subaru and its retailers believe in giving back to our communities. That's why for every new vehicle sold or leased during the Subaru Share the Love event, Subaru and its retailers, like us, makes a donation to national charities that our owners care about and to over 2,700 local charities where Subaru owners live and work.
Now, after 17 years, Subaru and our retailers have donated nearly $320 million to charity all to give back and to make the world a better place.
For the past 5 years we have given a car to a family that could benefit from a reliable vehicle. We have partnered with local churches and clinics around the city to find these families. Each year we also sponsor families to provide presents to them and make sure they have a Christmas. Throughout the year we have sponsored local youth sports programs to help promote an active healthy future for the younger generation. We sponsored everything from women’s H.S. Soccer at Albuquerque High all the way to baseball, football, and other soccer team We have committed to Subaru to build a new facility and in that we will incorporate multiple energy saving items and use green technology.
ASPCA
Make A Wish
National Park Foundation
Meals on Wheels
Subaru and Fiesta 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.
Earth Day 2026 was celebrated at Fiesta Subaru with a tree give away event in honor of Subaru Loves the Earth. Japanese Maples and Japanese Selkovas were distributed to customers in our favorite red and green colors. As many know, New Mexicans are loyal to their red and green chile and are always searching for an excuse to support our favorite food. The event was enjoyed by customers listening to music and collecting sports tickets distributed by local radio stations. Additionally Bridgette, the owner of the food truck in attendance, provided Boudin Balls and Jambalaya to customers. Fiesta Subaru continues to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation to support their mission of planting trees nationwide. This year, Fiesta Subaru distributed 100 regionally appropriate trees to individuals across the community.
Brian didn't set out to make a grand gesture. He simply noticed something many people overlook — that a small act of personal sacrifice can become a life‑changing gift for someone else. What began as a casual decision to skip his next haircut slowly grew (quite literally) into a mission of compassion. For more than a year, Brian let his hair grow longer than he ever had before. Friends teased him, coworkers cheered him on, and he embraced every awkward in‑between stage with a smile. He kept reminding himself that this wasn't about style. It was about purpose. That purpose became clear the day he walked into the salon and asked for a very specific cut — one that would allow him to donate his hair to Wigs for Kids, a nonprofit that creates custom hairpieces for children experiencing medical‑related hair loss. These wigs aren't cosmetic; they're confidence‑restoring, identity‑affirming, and completely free for the families who receive them. When the stylist gathered Brian's long ponytail and made the first snip, he felt a mix of pride, gratitude, and quiet joy. He knew that what he was giving up was nothing compared to what a child would gain. Back at work, Brian didn't make a big announcement. He simply returned with a fresh haircut and the same humble smile. But word spread quickly, and his act of kindness inspired everyone around him. His generosity reminded us that compassion doesn't always look like a grand gesture — sometimes it looks like patience, commitment, and a willingness to grow your hair out for a year so a child can feel whole again. Brian's story is a beautiful example of how one person's thoughtful choice can ripple outward, lifting spirits and strengthening our community. His kindness reflects the best of who we are and who we strive to be.
Fiesta Subaru loves to support local youth programs and finds it especially fun when we know some participants. This April, Cibola High School hosted the state competition for ROTC where a grandson of one of our Fiesta Subaru employees was competing. Fiesta Subaru supported the state competition with a $2,500 gift to the booster club as well as volunteering at the meet. On the way into the school, attendees received snacks passed out at the entrance by Fiesta Subaru employees while two of our technicians, Tiff and Jeremiah, donated their time on their day off to man the hospitality room. The 2026 WRX and 2026 Outback that were on display, were a big hit with many. One lucky young man wearing a spider-man T-shirt eagerly sat in the driver's seat while his dad "talked shop" under the popped hood of the WRX. Fiesta Subaru employees were stationed right next to the competition area and were lucky to see many of the schools compete. Including the special Grandson who won 1st place in armed solo and 1st place with his partner in armed duo. Thank you to Cibola High School and the state ROTC meet for allowing Fiesta Subaru to cheer on youth programs in our community!
This January 2026, in honor of Subaru Loves to Help month, Fiesta Subaru provided young students in downtown Albuquerque with a pair of shoes, socks, and a coat as a part of Subaru of America and Fiesta Subaru's ongoing initiative to create positive change in our city. Fiesta Subaru's community partner, YDI Centro De Amor is a Head Start School that is federally funded to provide free services to support preschool and early learning, development, health, and well-being for families who meet specific criteria and have children from birth to age 5. This Head Start School is supported by Youth Development, Inc. (YDI), which is a nationally recognized, New Mexico-based organization that provides youth and family services. YDI's website explains that they, "…continually seek to find better ways to partner with families to address life's challenges by providing an inclusive environment that offers diverse services with proven results, in a state that ranks last in the nation for issues such as hunger, child well-being, and education." In partnership with Operation Warm, Fiesta Subaru arrived at YDI Centro De Amor to set up the "store" with new shoes and coats organized by size. As the little shoppers entered the classroom, each Fiesta Subaru employee greeted a kiddo and led them to the shoe staging area, where shoes sizes were determined. The pair then journeyed to the shoe tables to choose the correct size in the kiddo's favorite color. After trying on the new shoes and ensuring their selection could run fast, jump high, and even dance well, the kiddos chose a coat in their perfect size and favorite design. The fit test for these involved, reaching to the sky as well as big self-hugs. While most shoppers chose coats based off of color and design, some kiddos wanted to make sure their coat and shoes matched perfectly. Before leaving, Fiesta Subaru employees helped their little friends write "the magic word- the child's name" on the coat and then the students admired themselves in the mirror wearing their new items before exiting. Fiesta Subaru spent a few hours cycling shoppers through as well as chatting with the students walking through the hallway that already got to try out their new shoes on the playground. Most student reports stated that the shoes were "very fast". As the morning wound down, the last enthusiastic participant picked out his "4-year-old jacket" but was already eyeing the one he wanted to choose next year when he was "5 years old". All remaining items were left behind to be distributed to other Head Start schools in the area. As New Mexico heads into a cold front, the timing of this event couldn't have been any better. Now we know that the students at YDI Centro De Amor Head Start will be nice and cozy as we battle the upcoming snow. Fiesta Subaru was very happy to participate in this event and as Operation Warm states, "It is more than a coat- this gift provides warmth, confidence, and hope." For more information about any of the organizations named, please follow the links: https://www.ydinm.org/program/early-childhood-education-and-family-development/head-start-early-care-and-education/ https://operationwarm.org/ https://www.subaru.com/our-commitment/love-promise/subaru-loves-to-help.html
In honor of Subaru Loves Pets month, Fiesta Subaru partnered with Feeding Pets of the Homeless® to collect pet food donations throughout the month of October. This organization describes their mission as being the first and leading national nonprofit to provide pet food and emergency veterinary care to pets that belong to people experiencing homelessness. During the community driven “Fill a Vehicle with Pet Food” campaign, Fiesta Subaru also received help from local pet store, Simply Diego’s Natural Pet Food Market, through their commitment to match the collected amount. Fiesta Subaru employees, customers, and local vendors worked together to collect 400lbs of pet food, and with the donation from Simply Diego’s, the sum totaled 800lbs! The Subaru Loves Pets wrapped car made its way to two different drop-off locations, delivering half the food to Compassion Services Center and the other to New Mexico Street Pet Project. The pet assistance couldn’t have come at a better time as the cold weather rolls in and Fiesta Subaru and partners were happy to deliver.
Fiesta Subaru surprised teachers at Governor Bent Elementary School with a sponsorship to update to one of their most used spaces; the teacher’s lounge. During Subaru Loves Learning month, representatives from Fiesta Subaru toured the school and spoke with the principal, Laura Chiang, about opportunities for additional support. It was clear during the discussion that the widely used teacher’s lounge had earned its wear over the last years. While Fiesta Subaru’s support through Adopt-A-Classroom provided aid for classroom needs, it was decided to also honor the teachers specifically for the important work they do. Once the revamp of the faculty space was agreed upon, an excited school-wide email was sent asking for a vote towards the most needed items. While there were many suggestions as to how to improve the space, the top three winners included: new couches / updated furniture / better seating / comfier chairs, coffee/Keurig/coffee bar/hot chocolate bar, and wall decorations / new art / repaint / seasonal décor / modern vibe. The owner/operator of Fiesta Subaru, Derek Kulach, arrived with help on the morning of the school’s fall festival to present the sponsorship funds to the faculty. He brought with him some additional fuel for the teachers to make it through the extended school day in the form of Chick-Fil-A sandwiches and salads. After chatting with some teachers on their lunch break and hearing how the interior designer hobbyists of the group planned to spruce up the room, the Fiesta Subaru staff departed leaving behind additional much used teacher items- a stack of Subaru ball point pens.
This October, Fiesta Subaru hosted their annual dog adoption event featuring our Share the Love Partner, Watermelon Mountain Ranch, as well as another local shelter, Santa Teresa Dog Lost and Found Rescue. Many dogs joined the fun, looking to find their furrever home, and in total 11 pets received new loving families. This included one, year-old Black Labrador mix who, with his two brothers, were recently saved from being euthanized. And although this pet was not up for adoption, a Cockatiel made an appearance during the adoption and entertained onlookers with his talking tricks. During the event, dogs were treated to special pupscream from the Cereasly Sweet ice cream truck and spent their time playing with each other in Fiesta Subaru’s dog park. Dog treats were available as well as the fan favorite Subaru themed chew toy. The special pets that were adopted during the event received a new pet kit and then took a family picture at the photo booth station. Although the morning was cold, attendees braved the weather and some lucky dog friends even caught a ride inside shelter volunteer’s shirts. As the event wrapped up Fiesta Subaru said goodbye to the remaining pups with a promise to continue to support Subaru Loves Pets and our local shelter partners
Fiesta Subaru gathered under the iconic dome at Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum to honor young patients and their families in continued support of the Subaru Loves to Care initiative. The community gathered on the evening of September 14 for Presbyterian Hospital’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Dinner and celebrated the hope and resilience of our youngest fighters. Fiesta Subaru was thrilled to provide requested drinks and gift bags for the event. Each patient and their siblings received bucket hats, mini racecar toys, and inspirational bracelets provided by our team. The embroidered patches and fanny packs brought by the hard-working nurses at Presbyterian Hospital paired well with the bucket hats gifted by Fiesta Subaru. Some children even chose to place their patches on their hats instead of the fanny packs. There was one excited patient who decorated his hat with a Captain America patch and then wore his hat proudly throughout dinner. As families enjoyed Rudy’s Country Store barbecue, our team passed out the extra mini racecars and encouraged children to explore an array of donated treasures from Presbyterian’s partners. The smiles and excited chatter made every moment unforgettable. Bringing joy to children battling cancer—and witnessing the strength of their families—has been one of Fiesta Subaru’s summer highlights. We are deeply grateful to Presbyterian Hospital’s dedicated nurses and staff for inviting us to participate in this special evening.
Horizons Albuquerque advances equitable learning opportunities for students. They partner with families, communities, and schools to provide a tuition-free summer academic and enrichment program, as well as wrap-around and supportive services for students and families throughout the year. This summer, Fiesta Subaru partnered with Horizons Albuquerque to assist in supporting their enrolled scholars through sponsoring a first grade student as well as providing an internship location. Fiesta Subaru welcomed two high school students to the dealership where they spent two days a week, for 4 weeks, learning more about their professional interests. Zeus, a high school senior, who is interested in automotive mechanics, shadowed Fiesta Subaru technicians throughout their workday. As technicians receive more specialized training they are granted more involved opportunities for car repairs. Zeus spent his time learning from employees across expertise levels and the associated jobs required for their skill. Jose, a high school junior, is learning about business management and spent his internship period following managers from different departments. He shadowed sales, service, and parts managers in the Fiesta Subaru dealership and well as marketing, project, and platform managers in the business office. He learned about the inner workings of each department and participated in activities such as writing call scripts. In addition to providing learning opportunities for high-school scholars, Fiesta Subaru also sponsored a first grade student. These students participate in many enrichment activities such as 2x/week swim lessons. The excellent educators find fun and engaging ways to teach the students. We especially enjoyed the report focusing on New Mexico themes such as reading The Tortilla Factory, planting corn seeds, using chile ristras for modeling math facts and going on a field trip to Big Jim’s Farm- a favorite of locals for a u-pick chile spot. Each student in the class elevated their skills and began lifelong friendships. Before the summer session began, Monica Hussey, board member on the developmental committee of Horizons Albuquerque wrote, “Dear Derek and friends at Fiesta Subaru, Thank you for sponsoring a Horizons scholar. In a matter of weeks, over 180 of our students will embark in a summer of leaning and exploration. Many of them refer to Horizons as their “happy place”. Thank you for fueling their dreams and being a part of their educational journey. With Gratitude.” While Fiesta Subaru helped support kids of all ages learn and grow this summer, we were excited to discover that through this partnership we also learned a few new things as well. For more information about how you can support or participate in Horizons Albuquerque, please visit: Horizons Albuquerque Enrichment Program | Albuquerque, NM
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 Albuquerque, this is a harsh reality. Helping others strengthens communities, which is why Fiesta 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 Fiesta Subaru have helped nearly 900,000 children and adults in urgent need. On 02/19/2025, Fiesta Subaru donated 252 coats & 252 shoes/socks to YDI Centro De Amor Head Start. 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.
Fiesta Subaru’s community partnership with Watermelon Ranch Animal Center (WMR) was once again celebrated with a check presentation and dog adoption event. This annual ceremony honors Fiesta Subaru and it’s commitment to giving back to the Albuquerque community through donated funds raised during the Share the Love Event. Sara Heffern, Executive Director of WMR, received the check from Derek Kulach, Owner/Operator of Fiesta Subaru, in the amount of $62,0000. As the crowd cheered, the dog audience also barked their approvals. One special 3 legged friend was especially excited and received much love from attendees of the event. Fiesta Subaru is proud to support WMR for years to come.
As the Albuquerque Public School year comes to a close, Fiesta Subaru has seen the completion of their sponsorship of the semester long woodshop project at Eldorado High School. This year, the tradition of building dog houses was sponsored by Fiesta Subaru. This partnership was initiated during Subaru Loves Pets month, when the woodshop program provided, what they coined, a “Taj Mahal” doghouse that was auctioned off to a new pet owner during the dog adoption event. The end of year doghouse construction was then sponsored by Fiesta Subaru on behalf of Subaru Loves Pets and allowed the program to buy the required materials. The completed dog houses will then be donated to local fire stations in support of the “Reunite” microchip scanning program run through the Animal Welfare Department (AWD). Fiesta Subaru is also one of 5 local businesses to partner with AWD expanding the microchip locations to 34 in 2023. Each of the listed partners have been trained in using the microchip scanner as well as the reuniting protocols. Having easily accessible microchip scanning locations, help make it convenient for good Samaritans to assist in getting a separated pet back to its owner. And now thanks to Fiesta Subaru, some of those locations will be outfitted with shady and safe lodgings built by the Eldorado woodshop program. For a complete list of microchipping locations, please visit: https://www.cabq.gov/pets/adoptions/lost-found-pets
Thank you to Fiesta Subaru for sponsoring the 18th annual Hope Classic Golf Tournament. The cold spring morning was made a bit warmer with the logoed golf shirts provided to the participants. And the windy weather provided many opportunities for “advertising”, as it was teased, since there were numerous lost Fiesta Subaru golf balls scattered around the course to be found by many golfers to come. Weather aside, the UNM Championship Golf Course leant itself to an exciting morning and a fun Fiesta Subaru “closest to the hole” challenge. While none of the Fiesta Subaru golfers earned the special bragging rights on their named hole, they enjoyed the competition, nonetheless. The event concluded with a catered lunch and the now famous Subaru Loves the Earth wrapped vehicle on display at the entrance to the dining pavilion. Thank you to Fiesta Subaru for your sponsorship of the annual Hope Classic in support of local education.
This April, Fiesta Subaru gave away 150 trees to New Mexico residents in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. As a participating retailer in the Subaru Loves the Earth initiative, Fiesta Subaru and other dealers across the country distributed 100,000 trees this spring. This donation is especially important in Albuquerque as there has been a strong push in recent years to increase our urban canopy with an aim to plant 100,000 trees by 2030. This goal will provide improved air and water quality, increased property values, reduced energy use, reduced urban heat island effect, and improved quality of life. Fiesta Subaru’s estimated cumulative benefit from the 150 trees that will be planted in and around Albuquerque includes, $34,000 of energy savings, sequestered CO2 in the amount of 12 cars off the road for 1 year, 272,695 bottles of water saved from water runoff, and pollutants removed from the air in the amount of 600 people’s daily oxygen. Both Yellowwood and Japanese Zelkovas were available to pick up throughout Earth Day week. While helping a pregnant mother with her toddler choose their tree, it was commented that the seedling will grow alongside this young family providing shade for many generations to come. Fiesta Subaru was excited to participate in this year’s Subaru Loves the Earth month alongside the Arbor Day Foundation and we will happily continue to do our part in improving our great city.
As the 2-minute countdown started for the anxious competitors on the cold spring morning in April, the Fiesta Subaru squad was at the opposite end of the racecourse waiting to cheer on the athletes. The Lobo Triathlon is a yearly race that takes place throughout the University of New Mexico campus. It is a fun event that promotes a healthy lifestyle that is planned and directed by UNM students. All proceeds from the triathlon help the Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences Department of the University of New Mexico provide a summer youth sports camp and as well as travel stipends for graduate students to participate in professional conferences. This year Fiesta Subaru was the proud title sponsor of this reverse sprint tri (5K run, 18K bike, 400 M swim) and even had a handful of employees competing. The Fiesta Subaru relief tent was set up along the running course right at the top of a short hill-just where water is needed the most. As the runners passed by, Fiesta Subaru employees provided hydration to them to refuel before starting on the bike section. The bike course consisted of 6 laps, which provided many opportunities for the employees to cheer on the participants. The Fiesta Subaru cars were on display with balloons attached and all the radios set to the same station. Hearing the cheers and the “pump up” music gave a little extra power to those tired bike legs. But while employees celebrated the adults with cheers, hydration, and music on Sunday, the morning before was the tiny triathlete’s day to shine. The kid races were split up by distance based on age. The six and under, 7-10, and 11-15 divisions were all met in the transition area with a congratulatory gift. Underneath the Fiesta Subaru tent was a table filled with water bottles, swim goggles, and race snacks provided to proud athletes. While both mornings were unexpectedly cold, spirits remained high as competitors from across the state joined together is support of health and education. It was a family affair as kids cheered on their parents, and parents cheered on their kids. And Fiesta Subaru was their cheering on all the hard work the athletes put into their training. For More Information about the Lobo Tri visit: Lobo Triathlons | The University of New Mexico
One might argue that there is nothing more enchanting than watching a soccer game against the backdrop of an Albuquerque sunset. Many residents spend their evenings watching our local professional sports team play the Beautiful Game. The NM United soccer team garners many fans through their expert sportsmanship, but also their work with the Somos Unidos Foundation-a non-profit organization that is self-described as dedicated to creating positive outcomes for New Mexicans through art, sport, community and unity. In December of 2024 it was announced that Fiesta Subaru would be partnering with New Mexico United, the Somos Unidos Foundation, New Mexico Youth Soccer, the Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network, and Kraemer Fields to launch the New Mexico United TOPSoccer program. The six week program kicked off in March 2025 and hosted New Mexicans with intellectual, physical, and emotional disabilities. Each athlete was paired with a trained “Buddy” to assist them throughout the soccer season and the specially trained coaches directed and instructed the participants in the game of soccer. As Derek Kulach, dealer/operator of Fiesta Subaru explained during an interview, “When I was approached with the idea of sponsoring this event, I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough. This type of community support is exactly how Fiesta Subaru loves to be involved and I am excited to cheer on the TOPSoccer athletes.” Fiesta Subaru employees were at Kraemer Fields bright and early on kick-off day; excited to see all of the players arrive and set up our colorful and eye-catching Subaru Love Promise wrapped cars. The sun shone brightly on the fields as Fiesta Subaru employees joined for stretches and introductory announcements. While talking to one mother of a young player, she explained that her son was excited to participate in TOPSoccer when he found out that he would be able to wear a uniform. And boy did those kids look great in their uniforms! The practices continued every Sunday for 6 weeks and the athletes learned many different types of soccer skills in a safe, engaging, and supportive environment. The final day of the season was marked with popcorn, shaved ice, and a dunk tank for the coaches. As Derek Kulach joined 2 of the United soccer team players to pass out awards and medals to the athletes, the trust and friendship formed between the buddies, coaches, and participants was evident as the kids were honored with whooping cheers and applause from their supporters. The excitement caught on as the athletes began holding their certificates over their heads or doing a small dances in celebration. One young man even brought his “boys” to the front and received his award flanked on all sides by his “buddies”. He then dedicated his achievement to his “boys” who had assisted him throughout the previous weeks. Fiesta Subaru was a proud supporter of the “League for all Abilities” and enjoyed watching the athletes learn and grow throughout the season. For more information about NM United TOPSoccer and the Somos Unidos Foundation please visit: https://somosunidosfoundation.org/topsoccer
Chilly days are made warm when you have a favorite new coat. This year, Fiesta Subaru teamed up again with Operation Warm on behalf of Subaru Loves to Help. Boxes filled with coats of different colors and sizes along with a wide range of shoe options were sent to YDI Centro de Amor Head Start for our annual coat and shoe giveaway. Our Love Promise Champion packed our Subaru Loves to Help wrapped Fiesta Subaru with shoe sizing charts and messages of confidence for its inaugural ride. Fiesta Subaru volunteers arrived at the school early to set up the extra classroom with different staging areas; a zone to try on shoes and another for coat shopping. As the kids entered the room class by class, they first took off their shoes to measure their foot size. Then they sat down to try on their favorite color of shoes. Of course, testing their new shoes to see how high they could jump and how fast they could run was very important. Many kids wanted to wear their new shoes for the day and carry home their old ones. An extra surprise was waiting inside the shoes as each pair came with two new sets of socks. Next, the kids were led to the “thank you” banner where they signed their names. The final stop allowed them to choose a coat that passed all of the stretch tests and that they could use for the next season as well. As the event wound down, the final students to come shopping were the three pink ladies. All three little girls, wearing all pink, left the event with new pink shoes and pink coats. Fiesta Subaru was honored to sponsor and support the youngest members of our community with providing them with extra warmth this winter.
Although the Hope Husky mascot might be the most well-known dog across all three Hope Christian School campuses, the elementary school students might say that Easton is their favorite furry friend. Easton, the trained and certified therapy dog, spends his days in his dedicated reading yard inside the school’s library. You can often find students snuggled up with Easton, reading to him on the floor couch in his cozy corner. Studies have shown that there are many benefits to reading to dogs including increasing confidence through providing a non-judgmental atmosphere, fostering emotional connections through the calming effects animals can have on children, and cultivating a love for reading by providing an attentive audience. With the help of Fiesta Subaru and Subaru Loves Learning, Easton has been able to continue his support of young readers through the school’s reading program. The new book vending machine has been placed in the school cafeteria and is filled with books the students love. As the children visit the library weekly, they earn special coins after completing accelerated reading quizzes. They can then use these coins to purchase books from the Fiesta Subaru and Subaru Loves Learning wrapped vending machine. Once the kids earn their book, there is a big congratulations sticker on the inside cover from Easton and Fiesta Subaru. Fiesta Subaru is proud to support Easton’s reading program at Hope Christian Elementary School because Subaru Loves Learning and Fiesta Subaru Loves Reading!
As Fiesta Subaru makes our list of our New Year’s Resolutions, we are proud to have helped a very determined family work towards theirs. This past Christmas, carols were playing as a deserving family was led through the car showroom to their very own Fiesta Subaru Christmas. The scene was set with a Subaru blue adorned Christmas tree and wrapped presents glittering beneath. After being contacted by our previous Subaru Loves to Help partner, Family Promise of Albuquerque (FPoA)-a non-profit organization that provides holistic supports to families with children who are at risk of becoming homeless, are currently experiencing homelessness, or are recently exiting homelessness, Fiesta Subaru leapt into action purchasing gifts for a family of 5 and setting up a wrapping station behind the sales tower. As the FPoA case managers looked on, they became teary-eyed watching the family open up some of their gifts. One of our employees even provided a tutorial on how to re-pack a high-quality sleeping bag that he passed along because he wanted to, “share the adventure”. After enjoying some fellowship, the tree and the remaining unopened gifts were packed up to be enjoyed on Christmas day. One of the children had a very noble goal heading into 2025 of continuing her double credit courses as well as online evening classes. Due to her family’s homelessness last year, she dropped out of school to help her mom and make sure the other children received their education. Now she is working hard to graduate on time with her class. The Fiesta Subaru elves were very excited to provide her with a laptop to achieve this resolution (Don’t worry, this author didn’t submit this story until the New Year to ensure there was no chance of spoiling the surprise). Every year, Fiesta Subaru has a Love Promise goal and we can think of no better way to be a positive force in the community than to serve and encourage those who need it the most. Fiesta Subaru was happy to toast to this family’s New Year in support of all the goals they want to achieve in 2025. Below you can read the family’s story of overcoming homelessness. Shared and edited for length with permission. “Hi my name is Violet G. I have five kids, my two oldest are currently incarcerated, as well as their father so I am currently raising my other three children alone. Don't matter what obstacles I have faced somehow I've always found a way to overcome them I truly believe it's because of my faith and the Lord and the love I have for my family that has always giving me the strength to never give up hope. My kids are very resilient and also just as optimistic as I am. We are grateful for everything that we do have and I'm proud of my kids because they have never complained about the things that they don't have. There was one time we saw a homeless man walking around without shoes in winter so my son took off his and gave them to the man and one time around Christmas it was snowing hard and there I'm homeless people trying to take cover so we went and bought hot chocolate and handed them out so they could get warm. And there was a time a teenage boy came up to us and asked if we had any change so he could get some food, he didn't look homeless but I gave him the change because I thought he could have just as easily been running the streets stealing from people but I know it took a lot for him to go up to us and ask for some change so I didn't mind. Hopefully my family has never actually had to sleep outside in the cold but we have slept in our car I have stayed in shelters motels and with family or friends. We've overcome many difficult times but I can definitely say that through these experiences we have learned a lot about the world around us and the people in it. Everyone faces difficulties in life and I believe that our outcome depends on how we act or react to the situation we're faced with. Through my struggles I have gained the strength to overcome addiction helping me gain stability in my life which I don't think would have been possible without the people I've met along the way. Family promise is an amazing program that not only provides shelter but they have been an amazing support group that is completely understanding. Through this past year it has been a real struggle for my family we have been homeless since last November which I find to believe completely unfair. Due to a 9-month billing error that was overlooked by staff where we were living and also lack of proper notification that the program I was on would be ending caused my family to become homeless and lose our opportunity for section 8. It was a very traumatic experience and it's definitely been a struggle. I don't think i could have gotten this far without the love and support that family promise has given us. There's so much I've been through but what I can't say is that I am proud of the person I am today and I thank God for the strength he has given me to overcome adversity"
You may be familiar with the famous age-old question, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie-Pop?” Well at Fiesta Subaru we decided to take on a similar challenge and find out, “How many blankets does it take to fill up a Subaru WRX?” Turns out, the number is 300. This holiday season, Fiesta Subaru partnered with one of our local Share the Love partners, Meals on Wheels NM, to host a blanket drive. The challenge to “fill a Subaru” was caroled across the city. And boy did the Albuquerque community deliver! The white WRX which sits in the customer lounge, was filled to the roof with new blankets to be placed in holiday bags being delivered to homebound neighbors supported by Meals on Wheels NM. Not only does Meals on Wheels NM deliver 200,000 meals and friendship each year across New Mexico, they also provide extra holiday cheer by supplying a holiday bundle for local clients designed to offer comfort and warmth. Megan, the Advancement Coordinator for Meals on Wheels NM, arrived early morning to load up her car with our collection and quickly realized the size of the haul would require reinforcements. Fiesta Subaru employees worked to unload the WRX while waiting for Megan’s colleague to arrive and provide extra blanket transportation. Many customers that were visiting the dealership were excited to see the efforts put forth by members of the community and all the while, the dealership cat Oni kept a close eye on the packing progress. Meals on Wheels NM was extremely grateful to Fiesta Subaru and the community for their efforts and provided this feedback, “Just heard back from one of our volunteers who delivered holiday bags along with today’s meals – the clients on his route were shocked and elated to be included and thought of in holiday plans for the year. Our volunteer told us that their reactions have really gotten him into the holiday spirit. I hope you can see how much joy your generosity has brought to the MOWNM crew – volunteers, clients, and staff.” Additionally, clients called Meals on Wheels NM and shared their gratitude directly through phone messages such as this one, “Hello, I’m very excited by the things you bought me for Christmas. I wanna thank you so so much ‘cause I don’t get anything, I’m all alone. So thank you very much. I have my blanket on me right now and ... how much I appreciate you. Thank you.” Fiesta Subaru is proud to support our local Share the Love partners during the holiday season and year-round. Although it is not quite the famous sleigh full of gifts, we think our Subaru WRX full of blankets is a close second!
Everyone in Albuquerque knows that as the dog days of summer come to an end, there is no better time to throw a party than in the fall. And with the harvest weather comes one of Fiesta Subaru’s most pawesome parties, the Furry Friends Fiesta. This October, as a part of Subaru Loves Pets month, Fiesta Subaru hosted an on-site pet adoption to place shelter pets. Our faithful companions Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center were in attendance, along with some new to the event canine crusaders, the Animal Welfare Department and Santa Teresa New Mexico Lost and Found Rescue. Puppy pet guests had their choice of playing in the dog park, picking a dog toy, getting a salon service, or eating a treat while their owners spent time learning about therapy dogs through the SCCV, receiving dog blanket tutorials by Hip Stitch, shopping at the APS doghouse auction, or getting something to eat from the Wana Taco Bout Burgers food truck. While the first guest at the pet salon, a purebred standard poodle, waited for her treatment, her human dad Jose, a technician at Fiesta Subaru, helped jumpstart the Soggy Doggy Trolley. Jose, said, “Of course I’m going to help them, that’s what we do here, we spread LOVE”. That helpful act and statement kicked off the theme of the event and encouraged many people to fall in love and take home a new family member. Many dogs had a great time, including the newly found stray whose owner was the auction winner of the “Taj Mahal” dog house built by woodshop students at a local high school, as well as, the pair of corgis who pranced around after their salon service. And who could forget Odin, the monster of a dog who ate his treat in one bite or the beautiful husky who had her photo shoot in front of the Subaru Loves Pets banner. Although there were many happy pets, the dogs who really had their day were the ones who found their new loving families. Fiesta Subaru is proud to report that 10 dogs were adopted at the Furry Friends Fiesta! There were another 2 who were placed as fosters and another one who did not get adopted at the event, but adopted from the shelter after meeting their family at Fiesta Subaru. Every dog adopted received a new pet parent adoption kit complete with Subaru themed pet gear. Additionally, Hip Stitch donated a blanket to every dog adopted and the AWD had their mobile tagging machine in tow. One family even fell in love with two pups and were excited to bring them home to meet their 10-year-old dog. In addition to hosting the pet adoption, Fiesta Subaru donated a grant of $8000 to Watermelon Mountain Ranch that will be distributed by the ASPCA. This donation will help fund critical animal welfare services for approximately 51 shelter animals in need. Fiesta Subaru is proud to partner with Subaru of America and other retailers around the country who have donated over $51 million to national and local organizations, which has allowed the adoption, rescue, transport, and health care of over 420,000 animals. #fiestasubaru, #ASPCA, #makeadogsday, #subarulovespets
This June 2024, Fiesta Subaru was happy to partner with Subaru of America (SOA) and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) once again to celebrate Subaru Loves to Care month by visiting patients at Presbyterian Hospital. Every three minutes, a new patient in the U.S. is diagnosed with Leukemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma and Fiesta Subaru’s donation of blankets and care kits help to provide warmth to those undergoing treatment. Leading up to the distribution, Fiesta Subaru decorated the dealership with Subaru Loves to Care signage encouraging customers and employees to complete Messages of Hope for patients battling cancer. Not only were they filled with heart felt sentiments, but our Fiesta Subaru service department turned the task into an art show by drawing characters and pictures to accompany their well wishes. Fiesta Subaru visitors, local nurses, and small children also assisted in completing the heart-shaped encouragements that were displayed on a message board at the Fiesta Subaru dealership before being presented to patients at Presbyterian Hospital. On delivery day, Fiesta Subaru arrived with two Subaru Foresters filled with items to be gifted to the most vulnerable population; pediatrics. The donated items included 80 blankets that fold into themselves making a heart shaped pillow, as well as 50 care kits. These items, supplied through SOA’s partnership with LLS are specifically designed to provide physical and emotional support during a difficult time. Knowing that they would be spending the day with younger patients, Fiesta Subaru decided to also bring a craft fiesta. They loaded up the hospital’s playroom with wooden cars and paints along with other decorating items such as stencils, buttons, and sequins. Mini wooden cats and dogs were also supplied to place inside the wooden cars as a fun way to represent the many pets that travel in Subarus. After setting up the crafts in the playroom, Fiesta Subaru and Presbyterian Hospital employees loaded up carts to bring the blankets, care kits, and craft trays to the kids’ hospital rooms. They interacted with many small warriors and their families while dropping off the gifts, as well as the doctors and nurses who are taking care of them during their hospital stay. The Messages of Hope were likewise presented and will continue to be distributed in order to decorate hospital rooms. “We know how physically and emotionally difficult cancer treatment can be, especially for children and their families” said Derek Kulach, Owner/Operator of Fiesta Subaru. “Providing warmth, love, and support to those who need it the most is one of the many ways Fiesta Subaru gives back as part of the Subaru Love Promise and we’re grateful for our partnership with LLS and Presbyterian Hospital to make a meaningful impact in the community.” Upon returning to the hospital’s playroom, one young patient challenged the Fiesta Subaru employees to a game of bowling. Presbyterian nurses and coordinators watched and cheered on the game. Before saying our goodbyes, Fiesta Subaru left one more donation behind; a bucket filled with Subaru Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars along with a track on which they can drive. Sal Bosler, Manager of the Child Life Program said, Presbyterian Hospital appreciates the support of community members and organization for our patients. It is donations like this that help make a patient’s stay here more comfortable during a difficult time.” Fiesta Subaru was honored to be a part of the Subaru Loves to Care donation drop off as well as being able to provide $7,500 in funds targeting the LLS Urgent Need Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Fund, which supports patients and their families with non-medical related expenses. If you would like more information about how to assist in caring for someone with cancer, please visit: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Blood Cancer Leaders | LLS If you would like more information about Subaru’s Love Promise, please visit: The Subaru Love Promise | More Than a Car Company
Addy has returned home! After being admitted with a rare liver disease to Denver Children’s Hospital in November, Adeleena is finally back in Albuquerque. Her time at DCH was extended due to complications from her rare liver disease: Non Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension. After receiving her first transplant from her grandmother, Addy battled major complications and underwent 14 surgeries to try and save her liver. After the organ failed and she was put back on the transplant list, another liver miraculously became available a few days later. Surgery was immediately performed and Addy became the first ever recorded patient to receive a liver while on life support. Addy continued her stay in Denver by participating in rehabilitation to relearn how to walk and talk. When learning that her father, Arturo Martinez, was returning to work in the parts department at the beginning of August, his manager decided that he’d love to coordinate a Welcome Back lunch for our Fiesta Subaru Love Promise Champion. With a special surprise included for Addy. As the Fiesta Subaru employees and Subaru of America attendees served themselves Rudy’s BBQ, Adeleena took the seat of honor in the middle of the conference room. Announcements were made, Albuquerque Isotope baseball tickets were distributed, and the team cheered for Arturo’s return. Then, the grand finale. For the last few weeks, Fiesta Subaru had been collecting toys to present to Addy during the celebration. Both she and Arturo were surprised to see the table full of toys. While she was excited for all her gifts her favorite toy was a camera given to her by the Fiesta Subaru service manager. As people shot photos of Addy, she spent her time taking photos right back. When following up on Addy’s transition back home, Arturo happily reported that she is getting better and stronger everyday as he proudly shared videos of her recent trip to the zoo. She can be seen running through the exhibits and chatting with friends. While the family settles back in, Addy remains immunocompromised and is required to take medications throughout the day and is therefore not cleared to return to school. However, since her homecoming she no longer requires dialysis or oxygen. And everyone is excitedly counting down the days until her 4th birthday celebration! If you would like to continue to support Adeleena through her medical journey, please follow the link to her donation page: https://cota.org/cotaforadeleenasjourney/our-story/
Who needs coffee more than a teacher does? Especially the night after the school hosts their open house. And especially the Friday before a holiday weekend. Fiesta Subaru was more than happy to hire a local coffee truck from Catalyst Coffee, to serve the staff at Governor Bent Elementary School. As a part of Subaru Loves Learning month, sales staff and managers from Fiesta Subaru arrived early morning to set up a coffee pavilion at our “adopted” school. The tent was outfitted with florals in the signature Subaru Loves Learning color, purple, and donated school supply kits were on display and ready to be delivered. After the teachers received their coffee/tea, they headed over to the pavilion where they could read Back-to-School messages written by customers and employees. As the morning rush quieted, Fiesta Subaru employees got a good tour of the campus as they helped to deliver school supply kits and coffees to those teachers who were unable to leave their classrooms. All the while, we were searching for additional opportunities to assist Governor Bent Elementary School. After discussing it with the Principal, the owner/operator of Fiesta Subaru, Derek Kulach, decided that he could further contribute by repairing the school’s marquee sign. Through our partnership with Subaru of America and AdoptAClassroom.org, Fiesta Subaru was able to donate school supply kits to 15 classrooms as well as provide a monetary of donation of $7,500 which will support 375 students. Fiesta Subaru looks forward to future partnerships with Governor Bent Elementary school. Stay tuned for many stories to come!
This summer, Ruidoso, NM has suffered a tragic fate. Two fires have ravaged the mountain town, burning more than 25,000 acres. The Salt Fire and South Fork Fires have burned as many as 1,400 structures- which may include 500 residences. Many call Ruidoso home, and its unique location brings travelers from both NM and Texas. It is a summer getaway location for those trying to beat the heat, but equally as popular as a ski town during the winter. The fires began on June 17 and displaced 8,000 residents at its peak. With the fires being 85% contained, full-time occupants have been allowed to return. However, recent rains have made flash flooding in the areas impacted by the fires an immediate concern with shelter and food services provided to those affected by the flooding. When Fiesta Subaru service advisor, Richard, began assisting his customer he learned that she was only in Albuquerque temporarily. Two weeks prior to her appointment, her husband was tragically killed by a drunk driver. Less than a week later, she and her 15-year-old son were evacuated from their home in Ruidoso. They have been residing in Albuquerque while waiting on her husband’s death certificate, which was re-routed due to the fires. After hearing this customer’s story, Fiesta Subaru’s service manager, Jessica, immediately knew she could help. "We wanted to assist her by paying for her service because that is just one less thing on her plate," said Jessica. When she explained to the customer that Fiesta Subaru would cover the cost of her 30,000-mile service, there were many hugs and tears. The customer shared that she is a loyal Subaru owner, purchasing 8 already, and she is planning on her son’s first car being from Fiesta Subaru. Although she had yet to return to her home to examine the extent of the damage, her house did survive the fires. Fiesta Subaru is supporting other New Mexicans effected by the fires by donating to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County on the recommendation of the Village of Ruidoso. The money will support the Shelter Fund, which assists individuals who are experiencing hardships as a result of unforeseen disasters such as flooding and fires. Photo Credit: KOB 4, photo provided by Pam Bonner
Fiesta Subaru surprised representatives from Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center (WMR), New Mexico’s largest no-kill animal shelter, during a summer dog adoption hosted by the retailer. The check presented in the amount of $72,808.00 was made on behalf of the annual Share the Love charity event occurring at the end of each year. To celebrate the occasion, Fiesta Subaru provided an array of dog themed “human” cookies and chocolates for those attending the event. Our resident dog model ambassador, named Chewbaru, was also on display donning his Subaru hat and collar. And for our dog friends, we provided free dog toys and treats that were handed out to visitors, including a very large Great Dane who was shopping for a new Subaru. A few of the dogs brought by WMR to the adoption included a pair of young Chihuahua mix brothers who had been rescued, a Pitbull mix that was being fostered after being abandoned, and a bonded pair who needed to be adopted together after their owner passed away. This last pair were the stars of the show, when while holding them Derek Kulach, Owner/Operator of Fiesta Subaru explained in front of employees and guests that, “These dogs are symbolic of Fiesta Subaru’s relationship with Watermelon Mountain Ranch, partnered throughout the years to get dogs adopted. Every year Subaru of America matches the money we donate from the car sales and services rendered during the months of November and December, and this last year was our biggest yet.” As the oversized check was presented, onlookers cheered and clapped for the significant donation made to WMR. Fiesta Subaru and Subaru of America’s dedication to being a positive force in the community allows customers to target the donation between four national charities, the ASPCA, Make-a-Wish, Meals on Wheels, the National Park Foundation or Fiesta’s hometown charity, Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center. The funds gifted to Watermelon Mountain Ranch are representative of the Albuquerque community’s drive to help shelter pets. The donation money received is going to assist pets with urgent medical needs. Fiesta Subaru’s partnership with Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center is one way we honor our year-round commitment to the Subaru Love Promise in which we support the areas of environment, health, pets, education, and community. Fiesta Subaru is one of many participating retailers bringing donations to nearly 2,300 hometown charities nationwide through the Share the Love event.
This year, Fiesta Subaru decided to celebrate Earth Day with a whole week of community building activities. We began on Monday with a ride your bike to work or carpool with a co-worker challenge. We were represented well by our owner/operator, Derek Kulach, who rode his bike 16 miles to work to kick off the week. We followed it up with our Tuesday challenge of bringing lunch to work from home. Many employees either packed their lunches in reusable containers or decided to bring leftovers. Our breakroom was sure smelling yummy! In honor of reusable coffee mug/water bottle Wednesday, Fiesta Subaru gifted cups/mugs for all of the employees to use on this day. So far, our communal water fountain and bottle filler has saved 4,909 plastic bottles from entering landfills. On Thursday, if leaving their desk for more than two hours employees completely turned off their computers to save power and energy. The grand finale occurred on Friday when employees and customers were encouraged to bring old electronics to the Fiesta Subaru showroom in order for Fiesta Subaru to transport and pay for proper disposal and recycling. After the success of our initial launch day, we decided to keep the recycling table open until May. We ended up collecting a carful of items that were loaded up by our fantastic sales team and then driven to a local e-waste recycling center. We had a great time challenging our Fiesta Subaru community to love the Earth and plan to continue for many years to come!
This spring soccer season, NM United players attended a U6 Corrales soccer practice. The Colts soccer team received some elite coaching during their Wednesday night practice as Daniel Bruce and Will Seymore ran through drills with the team. The boys were individually instructed on technique and passing with their favorite game being a “sharks and minnows” sort of exercise against the United players. The practice ended with a scrimmage as Bruce and Seymore captained each side. Thanks to Fiesta Subaru, the boys all received game day jerseys as well as spirit flags. Bruce and Seymore took time to sign all of the memorabilia before taking a group photo. Some of the excited boys even wore their signed jerseys proudly to school the following day. Looks like the premier coaching was a success, as the Colts won their soccer game the next Saturday. Thanks to Fiesta Subaru for making dreams come true! Somos Unidos!
What does it mean to be a champion? For some it might mean being the victor. For others it might mean defending a cause. For Subaru, it is a group of select employees that uphold and reinforce the standards of Honesty, Empathy, Appreciation, Respect, and Trust (H.E.A.R.T.) in the way we treat our customers, co-workers, and communities. When one of our own Fiesta Subaru champions got hit with the unthinkable, the whole Subaru community rose up and we all became love promise champions. Arturo Martinez has been a long-time parts employee of Fiesta Subaru. He is an active and beloved member of our love promise team. He stays busy heading our recycling initiative and assisting customers at the parts counter. You can often find him encouraging interdepartmental engagement through holiday gift exchanges and monthly pot-luck coordinating. However, since the middle of November, Arturo has been by his three-year-old daughter, Adeleena’s, hospital bedside as she has jumped from one health scare to the next. Unfortunately, the local doctors in Albuquerque were not able to continue treatment and she was airlifted to Colorado Children’s Hospital in Denver. She remains there as she recovers from heart surgery and awaits a liver transplant due to a rare liver disease: Non cirrhotic portal hypertension. When Arturo’s co-workers first learned of the seriousness of Adeleena’s condition and her transfer out of state, the entire dealership acted quickly to champion our champion. Immediately, our Parts and Service managers collected the money they had been saving from scrap deliveries and sent it to Arturo for some instant financial assistance. Additional aid was collected from the employees and sent along with many condolences and support phone calls. The owner/operator of Fiesta Subaru had the idea of including other Subaru dealerships in our efforts after another love promise champion volunteered to drive a car up to Arturo in Denver. The owner/operator of Fiesta Subaru contacted Arapahoe Subaru about providing transportation for Arturo while he is “living” out of town. Arapahoe Subaru quickly provided Arturo with a service loaner vehicle to use from their inventory. Fiesta Subaru has made a substantial contribution through the Children’s Organ Transplant Association and with permission, Adeleena’s story has been posted and shared through social media platforms. The Subaru community support continues to grow as links to her donation page have been distributed to other Subaru retailers all over the country through dealer and love promise champion connections. Please read Adeleena’s story at: https://cota.org/cotaforadeleenasjourney/our-story/, to find out more information about how you can donate and help her be her own champion by conquering her disease, because we can ALL be champions!
Operation Warm is a national nonprofit that manufactures brand-new coats and shoes for children. Their tagline, “more than a coat”, represents the warmth, confidence, and hope they provide to children in underserved communities. Fiesta Subaru was honored to partner with Operation Warm through an on-site gifting event as a part of Subaru Loves to Help month. Volunteers from Fiesta Subaru loaded up two Subaru Ascents full of 252 coat, shoes, and sock bundles and delivered them to Family Promise of Albuquerque (FPoA), a non-profit organization that assists families who are at risk for homelessness, currently experiencing homelessness or recently exiting homelessness. The Fiesta Subaru employees as well as Kaleen and Laura from FPoA set up the space with coat shopping at one end and an area for trying on shoes, complete with a foot sizing mat, at the other. The Fiesta Subaru employees helped the children find their perfect sizes with coats and shoes ranging from toddler to big kid. The children then picked their favorite color shoes and coats to take home as well as two pairs of socks. “It was really great seeing the kids choose their favorite colors because their siblings really had a lot to say about what options looked best,” explained Derek Kulach owner/operator of Fiesta Subaru. Kaleen from FPoA said, “Thank you and everyone from Fiesta Subaru who came out to work with us in the Operation Warm Give Back Event. You all were so sweet in working with our families and putting a smile and laughter with the children. I greatly appreciate all the work you and the Fiesta Subaru team did in helping make this event a success. We were able to help over 50 children so far with the gift of a warm coat, shoes, and socks! This event and opportunity was such a blessing to our program and the families we serve!” For more information about Operation Warm please visit: Operation Warm For more information about Family Promise of Albuquerque please visit: Shelters | Family Promise of Albuquerque | United States (familypromisealbuquerquenm.org)
‘Twas the day of graduation and all through the store, many pooches were listening to kazoos and more! This December, Fiesta Subaru had the absolute pleasure of hosting Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers (SCCV) and their beloved pets for an exciting graduation and holiday celebration. The dogs were dressed in their holiday best as they arrived for an afternoon of fun. SCCV is a non-profit organization that offers pet therapy to over 35 facilities in the Albuquerque area, and this December they welcomed 8 new registered therapy dogs to their group; 5 of which were recognized at Fiesta Subaru. As the guests arrived, their humans dropped off a gift to be donated to our local Share the Love partner Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center while the dogs of honor said hello to their furry friends. The large group of SCCV pets played in the dog park and many pictures were taken in front of the Christmas tree before the fiesta began. The celebration started with an introductory story about how one of our Fiesta Subaru customers visited the dealership during Subaru Loves Pets month and realized that the dealership would be the perfect location for a dog party. Being pet lovers, Fiesta Subaru jumped on the opportunity to have a dealership filled with doggies. As the graduates made their way to the red carpet, SCCV onlookers pulled out their secret weapon, Kazoos! The pups received their graduation gifts while listening to a kazoo rendition of Pomp and Circumstance. After the group picture was concluded the dogs and their handlers were led in a parade around Fiesta Subaru where employees and customers cheered them on. The afternoon continued with good food and good company while reminiscing about events pictured on the slide show displayed in the holiday decorated conference room. Congratulations to the members of SCCV! We hope you continue healing hearts with your wagging tails! For more information about SCCV please visit: Home | Mysite (sccvtherapydogs.com) Photo Credit: The Albuquerque Journal. For more pictures of the event please visit: Check out cute photos of therapy dogs during the Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers therapy dog winter graduation | Multimedia | abqjournal.com
This December, Fiesta Subaru paired up with Meals on Wheels New Mexico (MoWNM) to collect items at the dealership to be donated to individuals who receive their services. Meals on Wheels is a Subaru Share the Love Partner. During the yearly Share the Love event, for every car sold or serviced, Subaru of America and Fiesta Subaru give a monetary donation to our national and local partners. Our NM chapter of Meals on Wheels is a 501(C)3 nonprofit who serve over 500 clients and have over 400 volunteers. They deliver over 140,000 meals every year to individuals of any age who require meals with special diets for various health reasons, or are under the federal government’s defined poverty level. Each holiday season, every client who has received a free meal during the year is also given a gift-bag filled with needed items. This year was the first time MoWNM has paired up directly with a local Subaru dealership, and Fiesta Subaru was excited to set up a donation station front and center in the showroom. Our contribution table quickly filled with requested gifts brought in by customers and employees. After collecting items, Fiesta Subaru hosted Meals on Wheels New Mexico at the dealership for an on-site gift bag packing event. Madison and Brittany, from MoWNM, brought supplemental items that had been given to the corporation throughout the year, and Fiesta Subaru purchased an additional 50 blankets adding to the items donated to the dealership. Fiesta Subaru employees and Subaru ambassadors worked on tagging and filling bags that were color coded based on gender, under the direction of Madison and Brittany. Clothing, activities, calendars, blankets, and personal hygiene items were selected to complete the present. Excitingly, as the bags began to pile up, our Fiesta Subaru volunteers could feel the impact of their contribution to those in need. Then it was all hands-on deck to load up the 150 bags to take back to the Meals on Wheels New Mexico headquarters. This was a great way to give back to the community after a fantastic year at Fiesta Subaru. From employees coordinating access to a car from a Subaru dealership in a different state for a co-worker experiencing a family health emergency, to scanning for chips in lost pets at an average of 1 dog per month, to even celebrating an employee’s marriage during a Subaru of America trip, Fiesta Subaru has proven to be a special place to work and live alongside a great group of people. And as Madison from MoWNM said perfectly as she left the dealership, “Happy Share the Love Season!”
Thank you to Fiesta Subaru for your donation to the Little Huskies spirit squad at Hope Elementary School. The 60+ athletes on the team spend the year competing in both dance and cheer competitions. The team is comprised of girls from Pre-k through 5th grade who all work together to learn various routines. The Little Huskies are lucky to be supported by both the Hope Middle School and High School cheer and dance teams. Every year the squads from all three schools put together a homecoming compilation routine to be performed at the high school as well as during half-time of the homecoming football game. The donation from Fiesta Subaru provided pom poms for the Little Huskies to use during this special event. As a grandfather of one of the Little Huskies, I really enjoyed watching my granddaughter’s performance and experience the school spirit shared between the different campuses. The green pom poms were a fantastic addition to the “Into the Woods” themed routine. Thank you for supporting the girls as they cheer on the Hope Huskies!
The “Greatest Showroom” themed event was hosted by Fiesta Subaru on October, 12 2023 to showcase their brand new facility. The party hosted business partners from around the city as well as family and friends. Many Subaru of America representatives were in attendance and presented Derek Kulach, operator/owner of Fiesta Subaru, with a plaque commemorating Subaru’s evolution throughout the years. You could also find local Subaru Ambassadors present at the circus themed grand opening. While the occasion was celebrated with dinner and dancing, Fiesta Subaru did not forget their commitment to being “more than a car dealer”. A Share the Love silent auction was running throughout the evening for guests to place bids on a variety of items. The proceeds raised were matched by Fiesta Subaru and went to benefitting Fiesta Subaru’s national Share the Love partners; Make-a-wish, ASPCA, the National Parks Foundation, and Meals on Wheels. Fiesta Subaru proved that they are dedicated to doing good, simply because it is the right thing to do- while still having a great time!
Did you know that “Subaru” means “Unite” in Japanese? Well, that is exactly what Fiesta Subaru did when we united with our Subaru Loves to Care® partner, Presbyterian Hospital, to honor patients during September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In the parking lot of Isotope’s Park, where the New Mexico United soccer team plays, we participated in one of America’s most beloved traditions, tailgating. Not only were we all united by this favored custom, but the NM United soccer team is much-loved by the Burque. Fiesta Subaru employees volunteered to support the tailgate by providing food and drinks and assisting with the lawn games, including an oversized Jenga set and inflatable bowling. There were individuals from our sales and service departments representing Subaru and the Fiesta employees assisted in setting up shade structures and seating for the guests. The hosted families enjoyed eating BBQ provided by Rudy’s while the kids especially loved the mound of cookies Fiesta Subaru supplied from Crumble. Families enjoyed listening to music and socializing while the kids participated in face painting and played games. Luckily, the group fought off the heat with the assistance of the very popular Fiesta Auto Group cool towels that were provided. When KRQE News arrived at the tailgate to collect an interview, 14-year-old Evangelina Pino said when describing her cancer journey, “I did it because of my family cheering me on and everybody just being so positive and helping me with everything. Even though whenever I do not want to do treatment, someone is always there to help you and talk things through with you.” Evangelina even had a special “thank you” to the Presbyterian staff who especially supported her fight. As the tailgate winded down, the group made their way onto the field to be honored by the crowd and the NM United team before heading to their seats to watch the event. Although, we would argue that the real show had already occurred during the tailgate. The courageous children and their support communities got our biggest cheer of the night. We “Subaru” with you as we stand united against childhood cancer!
Thalassina anomala, more commonly known as the mud lobster, is a lobster-like creature that makes its home in mangrove forests in the Indo-West Pacific region. In return for the shelter and food sources, the mangroves provide, the mud lobster plays a crucial role in the ecological cycle of these coastal forests. Mud lobsters are aptly named, as their nights consist of burrowing up to 8 feet into the soil in which the mangrove roots grow. This activity releases precious nutrients from the soil into the surrounding waters, creating a rich environment for many other species to thrive in. In addition, the burrows allow the aerated, oxygen rich tidal waters to penetrate into the soil to be collected by the roots of the mangroves. The burrowing activity also creates large mounds that can reach up to 10 feet above the soil level, which is quite impressive considering the mud lobster normally reaches only roughly 7 inches in length. These mounds become critical habitats for a variety of species including snakes, spiders, crabs, shrimp, and ants as well as various plants. The Global Improvement Group (FKA @thecabonoffsetcompany) is proud to contribute to the health of these environments through our partnership with Fiesta Subaru. Last month we planted 1,740 trees, bringing our new grand total to 38,670! Thank you to Fiesta Subaru for supporting us and making this possible. It's a great feeling knowing you are helping holistically restore ecosystems through your business!
When Victoria came into Fiesta Subaru’s service department it was not long until her service advisor, Jair, learned of her predicament. She had bought a Crosstrek from Fiesta Subaru only a few months prior but was having her car towed in for service because she required a key replacement. After speaking with her about her repair, Jair learned that the reason she requested a new set of car keys was because she had been the victim of a house fire. Not only did she lose her car keys, but she lost everything-including her pets. Recognizing an opportunity to help a customer, Jair took this information to his service manager, Jessica, who immediately knew Fiesta Subaru could assist Victoria. Jessica brought her ideas to the Fiesta Subaru team and then went a step further and contacted Subaru of America (SOA). She believed that this was a great opportunity to have SOA be a team member in sharing the love. When Victoria arrived to pick up her Subaru, she didn’t expect to receive anything other than a repaired car. She was shocked to be presented with a gift card bouquet, stocked with funds to a variety of retailers. After hearing that she had lost everything, Fiesta Subaru realized she needed…everything, and thought that providing her with access to a diverse selection of goods and services would help her tremendously. Victoria then learned that after Jessica, Fiesta Subaru’s service manager, contacted SOA they agreed to pay for the entire cost of the repair. Victoria was struck speechless with the news. Victoria left Fiesta Subaru with a new support system that day, spanning from the local Fiesta Subaru employees to the regional and national representatives for Subaru. Fiesta Subaru and SOA made a great team and were able to help out a customer in need. In a story about loss, Fiesta Subaru was proud to find and offer compassion.
On July 17th, 2023, Fiesta Subaru, in conjunction with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® Desert Region Chapter, had the pleasure of delivering 80 blankets and Care Packages to Presbyterian Healthcare as part of the Subaru Loves to Care® initiative. They also provided flyers showing patients and their families how to apply for financial assistance during treatment visits that can be applied to lodging or food. These comforting gifts were accompanied by personalized messages of hope written by the customers and staff of Fiesta Subaru. This incredible act of generosity was warmly received by the Annie Lopez, the Oncology Social Worker. Alexandra Kulach and her staff from Subaru were thrilled to distribute some these comforting gifts to patients while they were undergoing their treatments. Being able to deliver a small gesture of comfort to patients that day perfectly captured why the program exists. Many thanks to everyone at Fiesta Subaru and Presbyterian Healthcare, not only for a memorable day, but for supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Five days before Fiesta Subaru opened up their doors to the public, they hosted a sneak peek tour for local ambassadors. Subaru ambassadors brought their families and spouses along for a private showing of the new Fiesta Subaru building. Guests were served refreshments and received “behind-the-scenes” insight provided by Fiesta Subaru’s owner and general manager, Derek Kulach. “This was the first time I have given a tour of the whole facility all at one time and I am pleased that the ambassadors were the recipients”, explained Derek. Some of the tour highlights included a walk around of the 30 service bays, the sales premier seating lounge, the recycled water car wash, and the shaded dog park. “I really enjoyed seeing the new dealership. I was fascinated by all the technology and accommodations” stated one of the tourists. After all the questions were answered, the visit concluded with stories of Fiesta Subaru’s love promise involvements and upcoming community commitments. The Subaru ambassadors are sure to be frequent visitors to the new facility.
Being able to give back to the community through all of Subaru’s “Love Promise” programs is an honor. Thanks to Subaru’s encouraged involvement with the public, our Fiesta Subaru community spans from our employees and customers to the greater Albuquerque area, as well as nationally. When I recently had the opportunity to recognize our employees, I knew I wanted to pass along the tradition and practice on to the next generation of little Subies. We had all hands on deck, filling up gift baskets to give to our hard working technicians as they chose their lockers in our new facility. The appreciation present was a small “thank you” for their efforts in moving our service and parts departments into our new location, as well as their patience throughout the process. The surprise consisted of some Subaru swag, favorite snacks, and a gift card to the tool truck. Our seven year old helper stated, “I really liked putting them in the locker so they would come and be surprised” while our five year old assistant was more impressed by the lockers themselves saying, “I like that the lockers have locks on them so only one person can get in them.” Either way, the lesson taught that day was to “share the love” to all. I am proud to be a Subaru retailer and believe paying it forward also means teaching my family what it means to be a Subaru lover- someone who not only loves the cars but also loves their community. And I hope they love as big as a Subaru!
Fiesta Subaru is proud to be one of five additional businesses partnered with the Animal Welfare Department (AWD) and the City of Albuquerque as a part of their “Reunite” microchipping scanner program. Good Samaritans can bring a lost pet to one of the now 34 locations across Albuquerque to be checked for a microchip. When you bring a missing animal into Fiesta Subaru, one of our staff members will use our microchip scanner to identify the pet, and then notify their owner that they have been brought into our facility. Our dedicated employees were trained by AWD on how to use the scanners as well as the protocols for reunifying you and your missing pet. Project Reunite has also placed microchip scanners at 22 fire stations and 7 APD substations in addition to the participating local businesses. Carolyn Ortega, the Director of the Animal Welfare Department explains, “Any time a stray pet can be reunited with their family, instead of taking it to the shelter, is a great day for that pet, their families and the community. It also leaves space in the shelter for those pets that really need us.” So, if you come across someone’s furry friend, please don’t hesitate to bring the lost pet into Fiesta Subaru. Together, we can bring smiles and wagging tails back to our neighborhood. For a complete list of scanner locations please visit: https://www.cabq.gov/pets/microchip-scanner-locations-1
Thank you to Fiesta Subaru for another great year of sponsorship for the La Cueva 2023 Summer Junior Tennis Camp! The summer camp for children ranging in age from 4 to 16 lasted for two weeks and had great attendance. The event is hosted at La Cueva High School (LCHS), and kids learn and have fun while sportsmanship is emphasized. Dick Johnson, the LCHS Boys coach, previous tennis coach of Fiesta Auto Group President, and longtime customer, said, "Thank you for your support in our tennis camp program for the summer of ‘23" We appreciate Fiesta Subaru’s continued involvement in our community and with our youth programs. GO BEARS!
On June 3, 2023, Fiesta Subaru was proud to partner with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence (NMPGV) in support of their Guns to Gardens initiative. This program works with local law enforcement during gun buyback events to exchange unwanted firearms for gift cards. The guns are then dismantled, and the scraps are repurposed into gardening tools and vases to be purchased. Many of these works of art, designed by renowned Mexican artist Pedro Reyes and forged by local students from RFK Charter School were on display at the gun buyback. The student volunteers who directed traffic during the gun buyback were proud to share their welding stories and the importance of the program. The RFK students are paid an hourly wage for their creations as a part-time job through the non-profit organization Southwest Education Partners for Training (SWEPT). Additionally, many of the items forged by these students have been exhibited through SITE Santa Fe- the first international art biennial in the United States. During the safe surrender event, participants were required to stay in their vehicle with the firearms in their trunk. At this time, members of the Bernalillo County Sherriff’s Office (BCSO) inspected the firearm(s) while other volunteers collected data through the administration of anonymous surveys. “Law enforcement agencies across the country are seeing the benefit of buyback programs as an effective tool to get unwanted guns out of homes and communities, reducing the risk of these guns ending up in unsafe hands,” explained Sheriff John Allen. Once the firearms were examined and cleared, Fiesta Subaru employees handed out sponsored gift cards to an establishment of the participant’s choice. The guns were then immediately dismantled on site in preparation for their new purpose-cultivating beauty. The General Manager and Owner of Fiesta Subaru explained, “It is a great honor to partner with NMPGV, and when I heard about the RFK students planting trees this past Earth Day with shovels forged by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes and RFK high schoolers, I knew I wanted to support an organization that combined education, the environment and safety. Not only did we purchase gift cards to distribute to participants, but our wonderful Fiesta Subaru employees volunteered to assist with the event, and we provided shade and snacks for all involved.” Many Fiesta Subaru customers were in attendance expressing their gratitude towards Fiesta Subaru’s efforts to provide a safe and easy way to get rid of an unwanted weapon. One new customer in particular had purchased their Subaru the week prior to the event and has since declared herself a lifelong Fiesta Subaru patron due to Fiesta Subaru’s community involvement. Other stories shared during the day included one report by a NMPGV member who was involved in a shooting while at a gas station. She was driving a Subaru Forrester at the time and credited the vehicle for saving her life. Overall, the event was a huge success and even lent itself to some extra fun. Many volunteers ate ice cream while socializing and there was even a footrace between BCSO and the RFK student volunteers. There is still some debate as to who actually won the race. The final count at the end of the day totaled 156 accepted firearms with 1/3 being semi-automatics and assault style rifles. The anonymous survey revealed that the majority participated for safety reasons. Thank you to Fiesta Subaru for your contribution!
Fiesta Subaru employees and Subaru Ambassadors celebrated Memorial Day by gathering together to “Spread the Love” through making one of America’s favorite sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly. When our Subaru Loves to Help® partner, New Day Youth and Family Services, reopened their in-kind donation acceptance facility at their youth drop in center, Fiesta Subaru knew we wanted to help kick-start their spring donation season. To celebrate the holiday, Fiesta Subaru decided to host a PB&J making event. Not only did we have the participation of our wonderful employees, but we even had local Subaru Ambassadors join the fun. To accompany the sandwiches, Fiesta Subaru customers and employees brought in non-perishable items to donate to New Day Youth and Family Services throughout the month of May. Thanks to our community’s generosity we very quickly outgrew our donation box. In total, we were able fill the trunk of a Subaru Ascent with the donations provided by customers and employees. Sam Bicknell from New Day explained that, “The drop-in center has served over 900 meals in the past eight months, and thanks to the amazing Fiesta Subaru team, we will continue to serve even more!” She also expressed that we hit it out of the park by contributing favored food items that will be prepared in the center’s new kitchen which promotes community and safety through sharing meals together. Fiesta Subaru is thrilled to have collected more ideas for support and service during our facility tour and we look forward to our on-going partnership with New Day Youth and Family Services continuing Subaru’s legacy of being More than a Car Company.
There are many reasons why New Mexico is known as, “The Land of Enchantment”, but at the top of the list might be because of our rich landscape. Our high desert climate attracts people far and wide and is treasured by locals. It is not every day that we, at Fiesta Subaru, have the opportunity to help out a Subaru customer and impact our environment in a big way. But that is exactly what happened this past April. John Peterson is a 42 year retired employee of the USDA Forest Service. He lives on 40 acres in the Jemez Mountains; a beloved camping area for many New Mexicans. John, along with 5 of his adjoining neighbors were severely impacted by the Cerro Pelado Fire that spread throughout the Santa Fe National Forest this year. John explained that, “virtually every tree on our 40 acres were killed.” John has used his expertise gained through his career and involvement in tree planting projects to stabilize the area soil. He has worked at planting grass seed and coordinating the logging of the dead trees through the New Mexico State Forest Service in order to prepare the land for planting. In honor of Earth Day, Fiesta Subaru employees delivered trees to our local Subaru lover, John, as well as our non-profit partner the Hermit’s Peak Foundation. The 3500 trees donated for Subaru Loves the Earth® Month were in addition to the trees already gathered by Fiesta Subaru through our #replant NM campaign. Thanks to Fiesta Subaru, the New Mexico forest countryside will continue to enchant locals and travelers alike as it is scattered with Douglas Fir and Blue Spruce seedlings.
In early January it was reported on the local news that a van carrying, what was thought to be 65 Chihuahuas ran off the road. While some dogs did not survive the accident, the rest of the them were sent to many regional facilities. Most of the dogs were directed to Albuquerque thanks to the East Mountains Companion Project. Chelsea Worley, the director of operations explained, “We prioritized pregnant mothers and babies first just because we didn’t’ know how many we would be able to fit in our vehicles. When the call came in they would be accepting more dogs that had been found the next day Director Worley explained, “Our vet was nice enough to stay late and she and several of the techs stayed and did evaluations, some needed to be hospitalized due to severe dehydration, they did not have good food, I don’t know the last time they ate was-they were really hungry.” In recent weeks, Chihuahuas have continued to be discovered along the side of the road which has resulted in 80 displaced dogs and an estimation of 100 dogs in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Fiesta Subaru reached out to Director Worley to offer help and immediately bought and delivered 20 - 55 lb bags of dog food, 20 boxes of puppy pads and over 30 blankets to the shelter so they had the items they needed for the unexpected influx of dogs. Going forward, Fiesta Subaru has also agreed to be a donation location for anyone who wants to donate any items to the shelter. Additionally, Fiesta Subaru has committed to host any adoption events as the dogs become available. Some of the 11 pregnant Chihuahua’s that the shelter has taken in have already given birth to their puppies.
On April 6, 2022, what would soon become the largest and most destructive wildfire in New Mexico’s history, began. Burning almost 350 thousand acres of New Mexico’s land and destroying 903 structures in its path. The fire was finally contained in late June of 2022 revealing what an incredible amount of work would be needed to return these lands to some type of resemblance of what they were previously. On May 6, 2022 Fiesta Subaru sent 100 cases of water and a Subaru Ascent full of snacks to the headquarters of the firefighting effort. Seeing much of the destruction firsthand and talking to local contacts they discovered ways they could help even more. For three months, Fiesta Subaru directed their marketing efforts to help rebuild the forests once the areas were ready to start replanting trees and #replantNM was born. Fiesta Subaru promised to plant 15 trees for every new or used vehicle sold. In addition, a GoFundMe page was started for anyone that just wanted to help or contribute. Donations were also taken at the showroom of the dealership. By the end of 2022, Fiesta Subaru had raised enough to gift 25,606 trees. 100% of the donated trees are scheduled to be sent to the affected areas! By the time the land is ready to accept the new trees (April 2023), Fiesta Subaru anticipates over 100 acres will have been replanted by our amazing and loyal Subaru customers! Work has already started in many areas to prepare the land for replanting. Over 40 Subaru volunteers helped prepare the Calf Canyon area in September and are planning another trip to the area in April to begin planting the trees alongside residents and volunteer Subaru Customers!
When you think of the Love Promise Pillar of Subaru Loves Pets, you might think of the millions that have been donated to ASPCA. You wouldn’t think about the safety and health of just one lonely cat, would you? Well, Fiesta Subaru in Albuquerque has taken on the Subaru Loves Pets vision and changed the life of one little stray cat. One day this little scrawny cat wandered into Fiesta Subaru showroom in Albuquerque. Employees weren’t sure if he belonged to an immediate neighbor of the dealership or if he just took a liking to our Subaru store and decided to hang out for a bit? Either way, the employees started to notice him hanging around more and more. Employees started to wonder and worry about him. Some even started bringing him food to eat and gave him water to drink. Pretty soon this cat was seen around the showroom more often than not and was even named by employees, his name was now ONI. As he became more comfortable with everyone in the store he began to lay on salesman’s desks and sit in their chairs and would come in and out the door along with regular customers. You would often find him lying on the roof of the WRX in the showroom from time to time. He took a really good liking to the Lot Manager Dresden, who tended to look after ONI the most. During adoption events with Watermelon Mountain Ranch, you would often find him letting all of the dogs up for adoption that this was his house! In the summer of 2022 while a video production crew was on site shooting a commercial for the 2022 campaign of Subaru Loves Pets, ONI found himself right in the middle of the action and soon became the center point for the Subaru Love’s Pets TV commercial campaign. He wasn’t shy, he posed like he knew exactly what he was doing. Oni has had his picture taken before and has been on social media several times. But now Oni had made it big time, he was now on a Broadcast Television commercial showing other pets how the Subaru Love Promise had changed his life!
On October 19, 2022, KOB-TV Channel 4 in Albuquerque ran a story detailing the shortage of dog houses for families in need in the Albuquerque metro area. The city shelter has had a program that offers dog houses at no charge to families who qualify to help keep their dogs warm over the winter months. However, in 2022 The shelter has been extremely low on houses to give away. Fiesta Subaru Customer Tom Boyd (Woodshop Teacher at Sandia High School & Ascent Owner) got together with the Woodshop teacher and Rival High School Eldorado and decided that they wanted to help. However, with funding being cut to all of the woodshop programs by Albuquerque Public Schools, they might be able to get just a couple of houses built between the two programs. At the beginning of November Tom Boyd was having a conversation with the Marketing Director at Fiesta Subaru when they decided that they could make this so much bigger! Fiesta Subaru decided to donate all the material so that each school wouldn’t just make a doghouse or two but make as many doghouses as they could by the beginning of December! On December 10 we had over 20 dog INULATED houses ready to go. Employees from Fiesta Subaru loaded up a trailer and headed over to pick up the Dog Houses. Along with the Woodshop teachers from both Sandia & Eldorado delivered 21 Dog Houses to the city of Albuquerque’s West Side Animal Shelter. 10 minutes after they were delivered, we even got to see the first lottery recipient of the donated dog houses. Melissa Montoya of Albuquerque stated, “It makes me so happy, and I appreciate them for that because I’m on disability, and it helps out a lot,”
Right when you walk through the doors of Impact Jui Jitsui Albuquerque you can hear the slapping of the mats, see the athletes grappling, and feel the excitement the members have in each other’s successes. Jui Jitsui is a form of martial arts that is popular in Albuquerque and at Impact you can find members of all ages and genders bonded together as a gym family. “Good People, Good Jui Jitsui” is the slogan that greets you at Impact. Adopted by the members and the coaches, the phrase is a beautiful philosophy that emphasizes the dedication and patience required to gracefully engage in the challenging combat sport as well as the nurturing community that extends beyond the mat. While experiencing many successes operating under this mantra, Impact knew they were still missing something- the look. Impact wanted to provide their members with an additional sense of “team.” Knowing about Fiesta Subaru’s personal investment to serve the community as well as Subaru’s overall dedication to service on a national scale, the local business owners of Impact contacted their neighbors up the street, Fiesta Subaru, to help with the task of introducing “Good-Looking People, Good-Looking Jui Jitsui.” Through their generous donation, Fiesta Subaru provided Gis- the traditional martial arts attire worn during jui jitsui- for all participating members. During the distribution one onlooker reported that the most excited members were the junior grapplers. They finally looked the part! Week after week members attend classes wearing their Gi with an amazingly consistent turn out in the youth classes. The kids even wore their sponsored Gi proudly to a local competition. But Fiesta Subaru and Impact’s partnership didn’t stop there. The owners of Impact and Fiesta Subaru decided to continue their charity by presenting a check to another neighborhood organization. The money raised by the members from the donation sale of the Gi was matched by Fiesta Subaru and then payed forward to Alice King Community School in the amount of $5000. The young grapplers participated in the check ceremony when they presented the funds to the principal of the elementary school. “It was an easy decision to partner with Impact Jui Jitsui ABQ and Alice King Community School. We were excited for the opportunity,” said the owner of Fiesta Subaru during the event. Caring for the neighborhood both in sport and education would not have been possible without the generous support of Fiesta Subaru. As one mother of a youth member explained, “We are so grateful to Fiesta Subaru for encouraging community involvement and partnering with the gym. My child is excited to wear her Gi when she comes to practice and my family feels inspired by the kindness of people helping people.” Thank you again to Fiesta Subaru for your contribution!
On April 6, 2022, the Hermit’s Peak Fire began in the Santa Fe National Forest. Within weeks, this fire combined with the Calf Canyon fire and quickly became the largest forest fire in New Mexico history destroying over 341 thousand acres of our beautiful forests. One of the hardest hit communities was in the Gallinas Canyon, outside of Las Vegas, NM. The river flowing through this canyon is the primary source of water for over 13,000 people. Northern New Mexico has been seeing much needed rain lately, but at many times it is too much rain, too fast. With burned trees downed throughout the canyon, Ash, sediment, and debris are running down the sides of the canyon and into the river contaminating the watershed and leaving this community with just 20 days of drinkable water as of September 5, 2022. “The National Forest Foundation connected me with Chad Tyson, the Director of Marketing for Fiesta Subaru in Albuquerque,” said Louise Jensen, Hermits Peak Watershed Alliance. “Chad had been working with them for the past few months raising and donating trees to be replanted next spring throughout the areas affected by these fires. We talked about everything happening in our community and he immediately asked how they could help besides donating trees.” On Sunday, September 25th, Fiesta Subaru of Albuquerque, in an active demonstration of Subaru’s commitment to loving the environment and working to preserve it, brought a bus full of 45 volunteers, including their employees, family members and a youth soccer team that they sponsor. All to help Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance restore an area in the canyon that has experienced some of the most intense burning and flooding in the past months. After a quick meeting with Hermit’s Peak and local community landowners, our Subaru Volunteers got to work! They began moving hundreds of burned logs, moving, and spreading bales of hay and mulch. With all this work being necessary, the most pressing need was to begin planting grass and building structures on the hills of the canyon to help prevent additional ash, sediment, and debris from running into the river and contaminating the watershed! “Without this help, I would have been working until next spring to achieve what was done in one day. Stopping the soils on this charred slope from further washing away into our meadow and the river is critical to restoring our home and livelihood,” said Eric Haggard. Landowners like Mr. Haggard and his family are looking at the next five to ten years of recovery work to bring back the land and Gallinas River to a restored state. Over half of the burned area is private lands where there are limited government funds and resources available for recovery. Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance, a nonprofit that has worked in the region’s watersheds for over a decade, was able to hit the ground right away with help from NM Environment Department, Santa Fe Community Foundation, and the Las Vegas Community Foundation. “We are so thankful for the volunteers from Fiesta Subaru, who worked so hard, and our partners at Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance, who’ve assessed the damage, recommended treatment, provided the materials and coordinated this work to help us.” Mr. Haggard added. “Our folks worked hard, got pretty dirty, and had a great time,” said Michael Pierce, Fiesta Subaru General Manager. “We learned a lot about the impact of this devastating fire and now the subsequent flooding. As a local business, we are committed to a long-term relationship with Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance to help with recovery. The Gallinas Watershed is a sub-watershed of our own Rio Grande, and we see this work as a way we can support our greater community and Subaru’s commitment to the environment and the outdoors we all enjoy, too.” Thank you so much Fiesta Subaru, in one day with your volunteers you helped us get done what would have taken us months! To learn more about the efforts in the Gallinas Canyon with the Hermits Peak Watershed Alliance please visit: https://hermitspeakwatersheds.org/3263-2/
With the largest fire in the United States raging out of control right in our backyard we feel helpless as we watch and hope that things will turn around and get better sooner rather than later. As of May 8, 2022 the Calf Canyon Fire and Hermit's Peak fire have combined into one large fire and have burned over 176,000 acres of our New Mexico forest! There are currently over 1,500 personnel fighting this fire and over 15,500 homes have been evacuated. With the growing need for just the basic necessities for not only the brave people fighting this fire, but also for everyone being displaced by evacuation orders or losing their homes and/or business to the fire, we decided to help however we could. On Friday May 6, 2022, Fiesta Subaru went and grabbed as many cases of water, Powerade, boxes of granola bars, fruit snacks and toiletries that we could load in some Subaru’s and drove about an hour north delivering them to the evacuation and firefighter center. Located in Glorieta New Mexico donations are being managed by the Salvation Army and American Red Cross and then being distributed wherever they are needed most. With so many families displaced from their homes and Firefighters from around the country needing just the bare and basic necessities to survive each day. Receiving these donated items from the communities all over our state is making a difference that most wouldn’t even begin to imagine! We will continue to collect donations for the evacuees, Firefighters and even those pets that are currently in need of food as well. We promise to do our part as a Subaru retailer and help replant any trees we are able to for future generations of New Mexicans.
We are kind of lucky living in New Mexico. The weather is amazing most of the time, we don’t have very many catastrophic storms and we definitely don’t have to worry about Hurricanes. So, when Hurricanes threaten other parts of the country, we watch from afar and don’t really understand what circumstances people in those areas are coping with. Having many friends at Baldwin Subaru in Louisiana we prayed and hoped for the best as Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana last month leaving homes and businesses with out electricity. We were happy to hear from our friends at Baldwin Subaru, but also saddened to hear about the destruction to homes and businesses in their community. They told us about their efforts to get supplies to families that did not have water, food, first aid supplies or whatever they could get their hands on that people were needing in Covington. However, one thing they were unable to find and that was in short supply were tarps to put on damaged roofs and gloves for people to protect their hands while working to rebuild or clear debris. We knew that we could probably get many of these items here in New Mexico. So, we immediately went to our Local Home Depot and purchased 100 Tarps and all the Work Gloves they had in stock. We sent them out the same day to Baldwin Subaru in Covington, LA hoping they would get there in time to make a difference! Hearing how much these items were able to help people in their community made us feel as though we were helping people in our own community. Even though we are over a thousand miles apart, we were able to work together to make an impact in a community in need showing the true purpose behind the Subaru Love Promise, being committed to the lives around us no matter how close or how far those lives may be!
The majority of students in New Mexico have not participated in "in person" learning for over 18 months. Getting prepared for the first day of school in 2021 is like no other year that any of us has experienced. Many parents in New Mexico had been Furloughed, laid off or had their hours cut during the Covid-19 pandemic and have struggled getting their children ready for that BIG first Day. Teachers are running into the same problem getting their classrooms ready with limited supplies provided by their districts. On Sunday August 8, 2021 Fiesta Subaru invited any student that needed help obtaining a backpack and basic school supplies to come out and get a free backpack. We put the basic supplies in each backpack, like pencils, rulers, erasers, glue, scissors, etc........ Students from Kindergarten to High School all came out to get their backpacks! We also called for all Teachers that were having a hard time getting supplies for their classrooms to come by and get a $100 Visa gift card to help buy supplies needed that they otherwise wouldn't be able to get. After the event was over Fiesta Subaru handed out over 500 backpacks to students of all ages and 35 $100 Gift cards to teachers from all over Albuquerque and the surrounding communities. Another group of students that Fiesta Subaru wanted to lend a hand to were on the reservations. The Jemez reservation has been locked down since the pandemic started back in 2020. Restricting travel on and off the reservation to the most necessary travel needed. These children were unable to come to our event, so we went to them. One of our employees is a member of the Jemez Pueblo (still needing an escort) traveled to the reservation and delivered 70 backpacks with supplies to the students attending Sand Diego Riverside Charter School. Finally, being partnered with Apache Elementary School for Subaru Loves Learning, Fiesta wanted to make sure they had some backpacks for any of their students in need. We put aside and delivered 50 backpacks to Apache for any student that came to the first day of school without one or had one that may not be quite up to par. After all pickup and deliveries of Backpacks, Fiesta ended up handing out over 600 Backpacks with the basic school supplies and 35 $100 Gift Cards for Teachers. The event was a huge success getting students and teachers of New Mexico off to a great start for the 2021 School Season!
With most kids beings out of school for the past year and a half and a lot of parents working less or not at all, Fiesta Subaru stepped in to make sure that any kid that needed a backpack for the new school year had one. Fiesta Subaru purchased 600 backpacks already packed with the basic school supplies. Pencils, ruler, crayons, paper, folders, scissors, etc......... In a 3 hour period Fiesta handed out 600 backpacks. From kids starting Kindergarten to High Schoolers. Anyone that needed a backpack got one!
With many teachers in New Mexico going back to their classrooms for the first time in almost a year and a half, getting all the supplies they need could be a very tough challenge. Especially when they don't have enough supplies during a regular year for their classrooms. But, this is not a regular year. With covid disrupting the end of the year in 2020 and students moving to virtual learning, the supplies they would normally see were disrupted as well. Fiesta Subaru during Subaru Loves Learning month has decided to give back to the teachers in New Mexico. On Sunday August 8, 2021 we invited teachers to come out and receive $100 gift cards (during our Big Backpack Giveaway) to help get last minute supplies before school officially starts on August 11, 2021. We had an overwhelming response from New Mexico teachers, handing out over 35 gift cards in a 3 hour period. We hope to have future events making them bigger and better each year for our amazing teachers in this state and awesome students!
Alta Mira is proud to operate the only Respite Home in New Mexico! Short-term care is provided a beautiful, accessible house in Albuquerque’s northeast heights. This service provides an opportunity for an individual to enjoy time away from their caregiver and develop new relationships with their peers via community outings and new social experiences. Fiesta raised over $1000.00 to help support the Respite Home during Alta Mira's Swing Fore the Respite Home
As a Subaru retailer and being committed to the environment, Fiesta Subaru is pledging to plant 15 trees for every vehicle that they sell. In an effort to offset the Carbon Footprint of each car and give their customers an opportunity to make a difference in the community for years to come. The Carbon Offset company is working to reverse climate change and save our environment. By planting trees both locally, in the United States and around the world we should be truly making a difference in climate change! The campaign kicked off on April 20, 2021 (Earth Day) and before the end of the month Fiesta Subaru had already committed to planting 765 trees! The anticipate that for their first full month of partnership in May, they will be planting over 1800 trees! The goal by the end of 2021 is to hit a total of 15,000 trees planted.
The past year during the Covid-19 pandemic has left many Non Profits fighting for donations to stay a float. When Watermelon Mountain ranch first partnered with Fiesta Subaru for the Share the Love event, they never thought that a donation of this magnitude would be coming. Watermelon Mountain Ranch, New Mexico's Largest No Kill Shelter, first partnered with Fiesta Subaru at the beginning of 2020 shortly after the Share the Love Event of 2019 with the plans to be their partner in 2020. The covid-19 pandemic put a lot of their plans for 2020 on hold while the nation coped with getting the virus under control. As November and the 2020 Share the Love event finally arrived, it was then got put on hold once again by the State of New Mexico due to an uptick in Covid cases. Fiesta Subaru was left with just 4 weeks of the Share the Love Event. In March of 2021 Fiesta Subaru received news of the 2020 Share the Love Donation amount and received the check to give to Watermelon Mountain Ranch. With no expecting that the check would be in the amount of $19,450.00!! A check presentation was put together to award the ranch with the money that will eventually go toward Molly's Mercy Missions to rescue animals from High Kill shelters and get them to WMR!
Fiesta Subaru has partnered with the local ABC TV affiliate KOAT to ensure that kids in New Mexico stay warm this winter. This year, the need is much greater than it has been in the past due to the Covid19 Pandemic and many families not receiving the income they were expecting when the year began. Fiesta Subaru is accepting donations at the Dealership from November 30, 2020 through December 18, 2020 for children (Boys & Girls) ages 5 years to 18 years. On December 18th the Coats that were received in the dealerships donation box will then be combined with the donation from Fiesta Subaru and will then be made available to those children in need.
In a Virtual event ABQ Mom hosted their 4th annual "Bloom" event in Albuquerque. Giving local mother's a chance to mingle with other local mom's and hearing from guest speakers giving inspirational messages to mothers from all over New Mexico. Fiesta Subaru sponsored the A Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible Car Seat to be given away to a mother either looking to upgrade their current car seat or one having their first or additional child. We are excited to additional opportunities coming up with Fiesta Subaru and ABQ Mom!
When the Covid-19 pandemic started to hit and New Mexico began shutting down, local businesses were hit hard. Especially locally-owned restaurants that completely relied on being open in some capacity to generate revenue. Employees were laid off and some local restaurants started to just close their doors completely. In late May 2020, the state government started to allow local restaurants to offer a drive-up service. At that time Fiesta Subaru decided to start buying gift cards from local restaurants and give them away in our Service Department ($5 cards for an oil change) and in our Sales Department ($100 cards for a car purchase). Hoping that customers would take that $5 gift card and spend $25 at that restaurant. In all Fiesta Subaru ended up giving out over Ten Thousand Dollars in local gift cards during the month of June 2020!
Fiesta Subaru and Watermelon Mountain Ranch teamed up during Puppy Bowl 2020 for an amazing adopt-a-thon. Within 35 minutes of the event kicking off almost all dogs had been adopted. WMR even ran back to the shelter to get more dogs that were available and brought them to the adoption. This started a great relationship between Fiesta Subaru and Watermelon Mountain Ranch with more adoption and other events planned.
At the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak PPE and especially personal face masks were very hard to come by. Stores were sold out everywhere. Fiesta Subaru decided to take all of the Subaru bandanas and Subaru Loves Pets bandanas that we had leftover from our puppy bowl promotion in February and turn them into DIY Face Mask Kits. We went to the CDC website and printed out instructions for the public to put together over 800 face masks compliant with all CDC guidelines. We supplied all the materials and each kit was sealed for the public's protection. By the time the event started, we had over 300 cars lined up causing some traffic problems on the main street next to the dealership. It was a huge success for the dealership and everyone that was in the of Face Masks!
Did Fiesta Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
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