The 2025 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award
We are honored to be nationally recognized by Subaru of America, Inc. for our dedication to our community, and the Subaru Love Promise.
The 2025 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award recognizes elite Subaru retailer who provide an exceptional customer experience at every interaction with Subaru. These retailers have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting passions and causes in their local communities in important areas such as environment, community, health, education, and pets.
Here at Subaru, we love our community as much as we love our vehicles and are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of all of our customers and neighbors.
What is the Subaru Love Promise?
Subaru and our retailers believe in making the world a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is our vision of respecting all people. This is our commitment to show love and respect to our customers and to work to make a positive impact in the world.
How is Lundgren Subaru dedicated locally to the Love Promise?
Lundgren Subaru of Bennington is committed to not only making our community better, but positively impacting the lives of all those around us through not only donation but through action as well. We are thankful to be part of Bennington, Vt and surrounding communities through where our employees live, work and play.
Second Chance Animal Shelter
BROC
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Love Promise Stories from Lundgren Subaru
Subaru and Lundgren 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
SUBARU LOVES TO CARE WITH THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY - Terry B
Since 2016, Subaru and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) have partnered through the Subaru Loves to Care program to deliver comfort to patients battling blood cancer. This year Lundgren Subaru of Bennington continued that tradition by delivering 80 blankets and messages of hope to Dartmouth Cancer Center at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. These meaningful gifts help provide warmth and encouragement to patients during treatment, and serve as a reminder that they are supported by a caring community. LLS is proud to partner with Lundgren Subaru of Bennington and grateful for their continued commitment to making a difference in the lives of blood cancer patients.
Lundgren Subaru of Bennington Teams Up to Support Local Community - Nate R
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 Bennington, this is a harsh reality. Helping others strengthens communities, which is why Lundgren Subaru of Bennington 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 Lundgren Subaru of Bennington have helped nearly 900,000 children and adults in urgent need. On 01/30/2025, Lundgren Subaru of Bennington donated 120 shoes/socks to Sunrise Family Resource. 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.
Cleaning Up, Coming Together — Green Up Day 2025 - Gavin M
Green Up Day 2025 was more than just a cleanup — it was a celebration of community, care, and Vermont pride. This year, our efforts began a few days early. With gloves on and trash bags in hand, we started by cleaning up the land surrounding our property. It didn’t take long before we uncovered everything from candy wrappers and bottle caps to old tires hidden beneath brush and leaves. Every piece we collected reminded us just how important this annual effort is. In the lead-up to the big day, our location also served as one of the official pick-up points for Green Up Day materials — bags, safety information, and those classic Vermont Green Up stickers. Locals dropped by to stock up and prepare for their neighborhood cleanups, and it was heartening to see such strong community participation. When Green Up Day officially arrived, so did the rain — and it stuck around for most of the day. But Vermonters aren’t easily discouraged. Volunteers showed up in rain jackets, ponchos, and waterproof boots, determined to get the job done. Despite wet roads and muddy trails, they filled bag after bag, proving that a little rain couldn’t dampen the Green Up spirit. Our site proudly served as the drop-off location for all of the collected trash from southern Vermont. Vehicles rolled in throughout the day, packed with green bags and soaked volunteers, each arrival marking another successful cleanup effort. It was a soggy but satisfying sight — a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together. Green Up Day has been a Vermont tradition since the 1970s, and it continues to grow stronger each year. It’s more than just picking up trash — it’s about taking care of the place we call home and showing future generations what community stewardship looks like. We’re proud to have played a part in this year’s Green Up Day — rain and all — and we’re already looking forward to doing it again next year. Here's to a cleaner, greener Vermont — no matter the weather.
Growing Together: One Tree at a Time - Gavin M
Through the Subaru Loves the Earth initiative, we’re proud to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation™ to help combat deforestation and strengthen the communities we call home. This year, Subaru and its retailers—including our team here in Bennington—joined forces to distribute 100,000 native trees across the country, marking the largest corporate tree giveaway of its kind. Right here in Vermont, we invited our customers to take home a tree of their own—choosing from four species specially selected to thrive in our region. Every tree handed out represents more than a gesture of goodwill. It’s a step toward cleaner air, healthier ecosystems, and a more sustainable future for all of us. Trees do incredible things. They filter the air we breathe, removing pollutants and releasing oxygen. They stabilize soil and reduce flooding, keeping our rivers and landscapes resilient. They offer food and shelter for wildlife, support biodiversity, and contribute to the natural beauty that makes Vermont such a special place to live. They even help lower energy costs by providing shade in the summer and acting as windbreaks in the winter. In short, they make our lives better—quietly, constantly, and generously. This initiative is about more than environmental responsibility—it’s about building stronger communities from the ground up. By giving our neighbors the chance to take part in this mission, we’re creating a ripple effect of care, awareness, and long-term impact. At Lundgren Subaru of Bennington, we’re proud to be part of a brand that doesn’t just talk about sustainability—we act on it. And we’re grateful to be surrounded by a community that shares our values and believes in creating a cleaner, greener future. Because planting a tree isn’t just something we do for today—it’s something we do for the generations that follow. Let’s keep growing—together.
Healing Through Companionship: Supporting Vermont Paws & Boots in the Subaru Share the Love® Event - Gavin M
During this year’s Subaru Share the Love® Event, we at Lundgren Subaru of Bennington proudly partnered with our incredible customers to support those who have sacrificed so much—our veterans and first responders. Our hometown charity this year was Vermont Paws & Boots, a nonprofit founded by the remarkable Michelle LeBlanc—retired Military Police Officer, retired Vermont State Trooper with nearly 22 years of service, and a nationally recognized, Hall of Fame K9 handler and trainer. Michelle’s program pairs rescue dogs with veterans and first responders, creating a path to healing through trust, companionship, and purpose. Each match is deeply personal and can take months to make, followed by an intensive training period designed to form an unbreakable bond. Michelle’s approach is thoughtful and intentional—because getting it right is what truly matters. Her vision goes far beyond dog training. Michelle is transforming the former Camelot Village into a safe, sustainable community—complete with furnished homes and future mock businesses—to help program participants rebuild their confidence and reintegrate into everyday life. She’s not just building a training facility—she’s building a future. With your support, we raised over $18,000 to help advance this mission. That means more dogs trained, more lives supported, and more heroes given the tools to heal. Thank you for helping us Share the Love.
Building Brighter Futures, One Block at a Time - Gavin M
At Lundgren Subaru, we believe that big dreams often begin with small building blocks—and that learning should be an adventure filled with creativity, curiosity, and discovery. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to support Molly Stark School with a $3,000 donation as part of the Subaru Loves Learning initiative. This contribution allowed the school to invest in high-quality educational building sets, specially chosen to spark imagination and deepen students’ understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)through hands-on exploration. These aren’t just toys—they’re tools for thinking. With every brick, beam, and wheel, students are learning to ask questions, test ideas, and problem-solve in creative new ways. They're discovering the joy of engineering, the thrill of constructing something from scratch, and the value of teamwork and perseverance. As one first-grade teacher put it: “I appreciate your efforts to help foster engineering in our community.” That sentiment is echoed by the students themselves. One young learner, Anthony, shared simply and sincerely: “Thank you, Lundgren Subaru!” For us, there’s no better reward than knowing we’re helping fuel the future by investing in the next generation of thinkers, builders, and innovators. Every student deserves the chance to explore their potential in a fun, meaningful, and engaging environment—and it’s our honor to play a small part in making that happen. The Subaru Loves Learning initiative is all about expanding access to resources that make learning exciting and impactful—and we’re proud to partner with passionate educators like those at Molly Stark School who go above and beyond for their students every day. At Lundgren Subaru, giving back to our community isn’t a checkbox—it’s a core part of who we are. We’re committed to supporting local schools, organizations, and families in ways that truly make a difference. Because when we invest in education, we’re investing in something bigger than today—we’re investing in a brighter tomorrow. Together, we’re making learning fun—and fueling the future one student at a time.
More Than Shoes: Spreading Joy in Bennington County - Gavin M
We recently had the joy of teaming up with Subaru of America, Inc. and Sunrise Family Resource Center to spread a little extra happiness—and a whole lot of new shoes—to kids right here in Bennington County. What started as an effort to give back turned into something so much more meaningful than we ever could’ve imagined. Thanks to this collaboration, dozens of local children picked out brand-new shoes—each pair chosen to fit not just their feet, but their personalities, too. From pink to green and almost everything in between, the excitement was infectious. The room was full of laughter, big smiles, and that unmistakable energy that only kids can bring. Watching them try on pair after pair until they found the one. Pure magic. But what really stuck with us wasn’t just the shoes—it was the joy in the room. The smiles, the shared stories, the hugs. The moments between parents, volunteers, and our team that reminded us all what community is really about: showing up, lifting each other up, and making sure every child feels special and supported. This wouldn’t have been possible without the Subaru Love Promise, Subaru’s commitment to doing good in the world, or the amazing team at Sunrise Family Resource Center, who work so hard every day to support local families. We’re beyond grateful to have played even a small part in it. At Lundgren Subaru of Bennington, we’re not just about selling cars—we’re about being a part of something bigger. Giving back is woven into who we are, and moments like these are why we do what we do. To everyone who helped make this happen—thank you. Your kindness and support made a real difference. Because when we come together, even the smallest steps can lead to something incredible.
Lundgren Subaru, Operation Warm, and Sunrise Family Resource Center Hold Children's Shoes Giveaway - Sarah C
Sunrise Family Resource Center is the Parent Child Center for Bennington County. We belong to the Vermont Parent Child Center Network and have been a part of the fabric of our community for fifty-five years. Our mission is “Strengthening Families”. Sunrise works in partnership with individuals, families, and community members to provide a variety of supports and services. These services promote the growth and development of individuals and families through the encouragement of strengths, expansion of opportunities, and support in times of stress. Our vision is that ALL families have the strengths and resources to reach their full potential. In early 2024, Sunrise collaborated with the local Lundgren Subaru dealership and Operation Warm, to host a “Subaru Loves to Help” shoe giveaway event at our center. We were thrilled to be selected as a recipient of this program. Sunrise was a great fit for an event such as this, as we work closely with community partners, schools, and families in the community to deliver our services for free. Sunrise knows that lacking necessities has a tremendous effect on the population we serve and that there is a trickle effect in their daily lives. Some children might miss out on opportunities to participate in school, face social stigmas associated with improper, ill-fitting attire, and can face scrutiny. When advertising for this event, the community response was immediate. Our main office phone line was ringing for days as families signed up to come to the event. Working with both our local Subaru dealership and Operation Warm employees proved to be stress-free and the event came together smoothly. We had over one hundred children sign up for the event ahead of time. The night of the event, when Subaru employees showed up on-site, it was clear that they were well prepared and all in attendance represented Subaru in an incredibly professional capacity. Our Sunrise team is well-versed in working with children and families dealing with trauma, and we were struck with the level of empathy and compassion that the Subaru crew brought to the table. Subaru worked with us to utilize our small family-friendly spaces efficiently. They were prepared with proper documentation and photo release paperwork and made the event seem natural, welcoming, and fun. Children and families worked with Subaru employees to find shoes that fit them properly, were the color of their choice, and left with smiles on their faces. If someone attended who had not signed up in advance, Subaru was first on the scene to hand them a business card and let them know that they would receive their pair of shoes if they called the following day. No child left without an opportunity to receive a pair of socks and shoes. Towards the end of the event, a Spanish-speaking mother and her young daughter walked in the front door. Sunrise and Subaru worked together to provide this young girl with a brand-new pair of shoes. Sunrise was also able to give her a pair of mittens, a hand-knit hat, and a scarf to help keep the cold weather at bay on their walk home that night. By the time they walked out of the door, there was a shared sense of hope that was palpable in the room. Programs and organizations like this exist for good reasons, and it was made clear that there is a definite need in our community and that “Subaru Loves to Help”. Sunrise would like to extend a huge, “Thank you!” to the Lundgren Subaru team that made this event possible and to Operation Warm for sponsoring it. We look forward to collaborating again in the future!
Thank You - Tom H
On behalf of our students, staff, and administration of Southwest Tech Career Center, we would like to thank you for welcoming our students into your facility in October for the great visit and tour. The time you spent with them, sharing your expertise and showcasing your operations, provided an invaluable learning experience that has left a great impression. We are also grateful for your generous donation of a transmission and engine for our lab. These components will serve as critical tools for hands-on learning, giving our students the opportunity to gain practical skills and deepen their understanding of automotive technology. We want to extend a special thanks to Jeff LeClair from Subaru of New England for his help in setting up this visit and taking the time to meet with our students. His efforts were instrumental in making this opportunity possible and ensuring its success. Your commitment to supporting education and fostering the next generation of skilled technicians is truly inspiring. Partnerships like yours make a profound difference in our ability to prepare students for successful careers, and we are fortunate to have such dedicated community partners. Thank you again for your generosity and support. We look forward to continuing this meaningful relationship with Lundgren Subaru and Subaru of New England.
Vermont Paws & Boots - Beth P
This year’s recipient for the Lundgren Subaru Share the Love Event is Vermont Paws & Boots. This nonprofit program was founded by Bennington native Michelle LeBlanc in 2014. Michelle has dedicated her entire life in service to others. First, as a cadet at Norwich University where upon graduation she enlisted in the Army. There, she was an MP and then advanced to a Military Police Investigator. After serving honorably for five years where she achieved the rank of Sargeant, Michelle returned to her home state of Vermont and joined the Vermont State Police. After several years, Michelle was selected to become a K-9 handler. She and K-9 Casko’s dedication, drive and skills earned her an impressive array of awards and accommodations including being inducted to the National K-9 Hall of Fame, two-time recipient of the K-9 Team of the year and two-time recipient of the Tracking Team of the year as well as multiple Federal, State and Local Public Service awards. They still hold the record for the longest serving K-9 Team in the state at eleven years. But perhaps her greatest passion is founding Vermont Paws & Boots. Vermont Paws & Boots is a 501(c) (3) located on the west end of Bennington in the former Camelot Village complex. This program assists military veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD, MST, TBI’s and/or physical challenges recover from their service to their country and communities by pairing them with rescue dogs to form an unbreakable bond between dog and human in service to each other. The program is 100% free to the participants, who come from all over the country, not just Vermont. Once accepted, participants in each class typically take a year to complete the program. She is currently on Class 10 which began in April 2024. The students train at the facility two days per week, then return to their homes to continue building upon students’ skills with their service dogs in training. Vermont Paws & Boots has had a positive impact within the Bennington community in several ways. While the program began in a rented space on Gage Street in downtown Bennington, in April of 2023 Michelle purchased the former Camelot Village. The property had sat empty for more than five years and had fallen into disrepair and like most abandoned properties, quickly became an eyesore. Renovations have been underway since being purchased with many noticeable improvements both outside and inside the facility. Students who must travel long distances are currently put up in area motels or in the fully restored Brick House located on the property, and frequent area restaurants and other attractions during their down time. The residence quarters are under construction. As part of their training, students and their service dogs in training frequent many area recreation and businesses such as the Hale Mountain Rod and Gun Club, Tractor Supply and Home Depot. Students also participate in community service programs. Aside from the main program, Michelle also offers private dog training with all proceeds going directly back into the main training program. Many volunteers donate their time, skills and resources to help with the renovations as well as fundraising, and events are always posted on the website and on Facebook. Vermont Paws & Boots is completely funded through the generosity of donations as well as Federal, state and local grants. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can reach out to Michelle LeBlanc Executive Director & K9 Trainer Vermont Paws & Boots.
