Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville Donates to Local Charity Chasing Dreams, Inc. for Second Year in A Row, Bringing Total to Nearly $50,000

For the second year in a row Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville has chosen local charity Chasing Dreams, Inc. as the beneficiary for its annual Subaru Share the Love Event, donating $25,000 to the cause and bringing its total donation within the last two years to nearly $50,000. Last year the local Merrillville Subaru dealer presented the organization with a $24,208 donation during a check ceremony in its showroom located at 1777 W. U.S 30. Chasing Dreams is dedicated to providing community members with disabilities with access to programs that promote independence through education and life skills.

Merrillville, Ind. (June 15, 2022) - Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville recently presented local charity Chasing Dreams, Inc. with a $25,000 check as part of the Subaru Share the Love Event held annually at the store. This is the second consecutive year that the local Subaru dealer has donated to the charity which provides integrated and vital programs for individuals with special needs and their families-facilitating an environment of growth, learning, and independence.

"We are so honored to play such a big role in helping continue the positive impact Chasing Dreams has on so many families. This year was extra special because we were able to host not only more students, but also their parents and really got to see how thankful and grateful everyone truly is for Denise and her team," said Kyle Faiman, Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville's general manager. 

Chasing Dreams, Inc. was originally chosen to be the program's beneficiary thanks to Mark Artibey, Zeigler of Merrillville's new car director. Artibey made the decision to nominate Babjak-who has a child with down syndrome-after learning what little resources are available to people with down syndrome at a federal and state level. 

The donation was made possible by the Subaru Share the Love Event sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc. During the promotional event the automaker donates $250 for every Subaru vehicle purchased or leased. The dealer, in turn, donates an additional $50. The customer purchasing or leasing the vehicle then gets to choose where the money goes, with the majority of Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville customers choosing Chasing Dreams, Inc.- 

Artibey said he felt a sense of pride within the community when he saw more and more people once again choosing to donate to the local charity, where the impact could be felt the most.

"We provide free programming to individuals of all ages with various disabilities. All of our programming helps educate people and prosper to the point of their independence. We provide physical activities, anything you can imagine from life skills to social groups. And this is a huge thing for us today since we provide all of our programs to everyone for free so your support means the world to all of us here," said Denise Babjak, director of Chasing Dreams. 

Zeigler Subaru of Merrillville has planned to continue to support Chasing Dreams Inc during next year's Share The Love Event. 

ABOUT CHASING DREAMS

Chasing Dreams, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010. Its mission is to provide integrated and vital programs for individuals with special needs and their families, that facilitate an environment of growth, learning, and independence.

Chasing Dreams is an educational, physically motivating and socially encouraging Learning Center. Serving children and adults of all ages at no cost to the family. Its programs are centered around educating, not only the individual with special needs, but also their family. All of its programs concentrate on building self-confidence and empowering individuals to achieve their fullest potential. The organization also says that no individual is ever denied assistance, regardless of disability or age. 

ABOUT ZEIGLER AUTO 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 Chicago and Michigan.