Subaru of Merrillville Donates over $3,000 to Salk Elementary School

 

Subaru of Merrillville Donates over $3,000 to Salk Elementary School


For the second year in a row, Subaru of Merrillville has chosen Jonas E. Salk Elementary as the beneficiary of its Subaru Loves Learning program. The Subaru Loves Learning program is in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, with Subaru as its largest corporate supporter. Through the Subaru Loves Learning program Subaru of Merrillville donated over $3,000 or $500 per box to the local school. This is the second year in a row where the local elementary school was chosen. The Zeigler Subaru dealership has pledged to donate to the school next year for 2023.


Merrillville, Indiana (October 10, 2022) - Subaru of Merrillville recently donated over $3,000 to Jonas E. Salk Elementary through the Subaru Loves Learning program. This is the second year in a row that  Zeigler Subaru dealership has chosen the local elementary school for the program.


In partnership with AdoptACalssroom.org, the Subaru Loves Learning program helps ensure that students have equal access to the supplies and learning materials that they need. Subaru is the largest corporate supporter of AdoptAClassroom.org benefiting 134,000 students last year and over 300,000 students in communities across the country. The Subaru Loves Learning initiative is one of the 5 pillars of Subaru Loves initiative. Other programs include Subaru Loves the Earth, Subaru Loves To Care, Subaru Loves To Help, and Subaru Loves Pets. 


Subaru of Merrillville donated a total of six boxes, one for each classroom chosen by the school's principal. Principal Petralia says he choses teachers that go above and beyond and commit themselves to their students by embodying the school's motto: "Every child, every day, whatever it takes."


Salk Elementary has approximately 600 students, grades K through 4th. Principal Petralia says the school is a Title 1 School meaning it receives assistance due to the majority of students coming from a lower socioeconomic background. The Merrillville School District is also a minority majority district with most kids coming from black, hispanic, or mixed backgrounds.


The principal said that the extra funds go a long way for the teachers and the kids, he spoke about his art teacher that bought clay for her students this year. For the children at the school this means getting to have the new experience of molding bowls out of clay, something that not everyone gets to do because of funding.

Besides the funds for school supplies, Subaru of Merrillville also delivered its Love Bus to the school. Customers got an opportunity to write words of gratitude for teachers at the dealership while it was on display on the showroom floor. 

 
"Every child, every day, whatever it takes."

Salk Elementary School is one of five schools in Merrillville and was proud to have been chosen for this recognition for the second year in a row. When asked about his thoughts on the donation and the Love Bus, Principal Petralia said,"We put it right in the main hallway. We are very proud of the distinction. Not just our teachers and students, but also our parents. I sometimes see the parents read the apples, and catch myself doing the same as I pass by. It's just nice to know that you are appreciated. We are very competitive here and out of the 5 other elementary schools in the area, they can't say they have received this recognition."

"When we showed up with the 6 boxes and the Love Bus it was one of those moments where we could see how appreciative they really were and it was truly priceless," said Kyle Faiman, GM of Subaru of Merrillville. On Zeigler's Driving Vision Podcast, Faiman also announced that Subaru of Merrillville will be donating to the school again next year for 2023.


ABOUT ZEIGLER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 78 franchises across 35 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

 

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

 

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, a Carquest Auto Parts store, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

 

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,300 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan.