The 2024 Subaru Love Promise Customer and Community Commitment Award

The 2024 Subaru Love Promise Customer and Community Commitment Award

We are honored to be nationally recognized by Subaru of America, Inc. for our dedication to our customers, our community, and the Subaru Love Promise.

The 2024 Subaru Love Promise Customer and Community Commitment Award recognizes elite Subaru retailers 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 Five Star 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.

In a perfect world, hunger would be history and hope would be commonplace. We believe a perfect world is possible.

Subaru and our retailers are committed to protecting and preserving the Earth, not just by our words, but also by our actions.

Subaru believes we all should have a chance to lead a healthy life.

It's our goal to make the pursuit of knowledge available to as many minds as possible.

Subaru believes all pets deserve a loving home.

Subaru and its retailers believe in giving back to our communities.

The 2024 Subaru Love Promise Customer and Community Commitment Award
The Subaru Love Promise
Did Five Star Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.
Love Promise Poster
Did Five Star Subaru go above and beyond, provide exceptional service, or support causes that are important to you? We'd love to hear about it.

Love Promise Stories from Five Star Subaru

Subaru and Five Star 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.

Rolling for a Cause: Five Star Subaru and AMBUCS Team Up for Strikes and Smiles! - Taylor B.

Five Star Subaru had the honor to be the Gold Sponsor of the annual AMBUCS bowling tournament. With echoes of rolling bowling balls and joyous laughter, Grapevine AMBUCS, Five Star Subaru, and the community witnessed a heartwarming celebration. This bowling tournament was a beacon of hope and empowerment to a deserving young lady, Emma Williams, on her 13th birthday. In a touching moment that epitomized the spirit of the evening, Grapevine AMBUCS presented Emma with an AmTryke, a specially adapted tricycle designed to provide mobility and independence to individuals with physical disabilities. Emma's radiant smile lit up the entire venue as she embraced her newfound freedom with boundless enthusiasm. But the impact didn't stop there. The tournament, fueled by the collective efforts of Five Star Subaru and the Grapevine AMBUCS community, raised an impressive $5,000. This substantial contribution will fuel AMBUCS' mission to empower individuals with mobility disadvantages through adaptive technologies like AmTrykes, scholarships for therapists, and vital community services such as building ADA accessible ramps and home modifications. Reflecting on the evening's success, the collective efforts from AMBUCS, Five Star Subaru and the community reaffirmed their commitment to enabling individuals like Emma to overcome mobility barriers, not just through financial support but through education, training, and access to the latest research and technology. AmTrykes, they emphasized, are not just tools for physical improvement; they are catalysts for confidence, positive peer interaction, and a brighter future. As the echoes of strikes and spares fade into the night, the impact of Five Star Subaru's sponsorship at the Grapevine AMBUCS Bowling Tournament resonates far beyond the lanes, echoing the power of community support and the boundless potential of every individual to achieve independence and mobility.

Grapevine AMBUCS

One Trash Bag at a Time! - Taylor B.

Five Star Subaru is a proud volunteer of Keep Grapevine Beautiful Adopt-An-Area. This fun program allows us to keep our community and business litter-free. We commit to conduct at least 6 cleanups on our street (Stone Myers Parkway) throughout each year. Litter is more than just a blight on our landscape. Litter is costly to clean up, impacts our quality of life and economic development, and eventually ends up in our waterways and oceans. Here at Five Star Subaru we are committed to help prevent litter with the ultimate goal of helping to end littering in our community.

Keep Grapevine Beautiful

Operation Warm 2024 - Shawn E.

The collaborative efforts between Five Star Subaru and Operation Warm on January 22nd left an indelible mark on the heart of our community. In partnering with us here at Volunteers of America (VOA), Five Star Subaru donated 252 Coats, 252 Shoes, and 252 pairs of socks to the children of our community in need. The impact transcends mere material donations; it speaks to a profound commitment to compassion and solidarity. As we reflect on the significance of this event, we recognize that it is not just about providing coats, shoes, and socks. It's about acknowledging the stark realities faced by families in our midst, navigating through economic hardships and resource disparities. It's about ensuring that no child experiences the bitter chill of winter without the warmth and protection they deserve. Through the unwavering generosity of Five Star Subaru, coupled with the dedication of Operation Warm, they were able to extend a ray of hope to over 80 children and their families who showed to the event and many more who could not make it in that cold night. The ripple effect of this gesture reverberates far beyond the confines of a single event, permeating through the fabric of our society and fostering a spirit of empathy and support. Each coat, each pair of shoes, and every pair of socks served as a tangible manifestation of care and concern. They symbolized the collective efforts of a community coming together to uplift and empower its most vulnerable members. In the faces of those who received these gifts, we saw not just gratitude, but also a renewed sense of dignity and resilience. The impact of this collaboration extends beyond the confines of a single day. It serves as a beacon of hope for those who may be struggling, a reminder that they are not alone in their journey. It reaffirms our shared humanity and the power of compassion to effect meaningful change. As we move forward, we will carry the spirit of this event in our hearts, remembering that small acts of kindness can ignite profound transformation. We will continue to stand in solidarity with those in need, embodying the ethos of Subaru Loves to Help and Operation Warm movement. To learn more about how you can support the vital work of Volunteers of America Texas Prevention Services, please visit www.voatx.org. Together, we can create a future where every child has the warmth, comfort, and opportunity they deserve. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bvmiexcj19w85849dahdn/Subaru-Operation-Warm.mp4?rlkey=ew5n1mnplqpc5mvqhs49bruw5&e=3&dl=0

Subaru Loves Learning Impact 2023/2024 - Taylor B.

Hi Five Star Subaru team, We are excited to share your impact highlighting the difference you made for teachers and their students at Uplift Grand Preparatory Primary School during the 2023/2024 academic year. Thanks to your generosity, the 2023 Subaru Loves Learning program supported nearly half a million students through our collective commitment to advance equity in education. We’ve heard and read countless stories of how each adoption has benefitted individual students and teachers in Subaru communities across the U.S. We cannot do what we do without the support of businesses and people like you. On behalf of all of us at AdoptAClassroom.org, thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to 2024. Your Partners at AdoptAClassroom.org

Adoptaclassroom.org

Spreading Christmas Joy with Five Star Subaru - Taylor B.

Five Star Subaru was fortunate to walk around the Meals on Wheels facility to see where all the meals are made, and resources are stored but also to see the amazing people who make sure that this program runs smoothly! After that they decided to contribute some time and resources to bring hot meals to individuals in need as well as a few gift bags that consisted of slippers, socks, soap, shampoo, lotions etc. On their way back from handing out meals, they stopped by Mission Arlington where they donated bags and bags and bags of toys for the Arlington community. Throughout the day, Five Star Subaru encountered stories of resilience, love, and the unwavering strength of the human spirit. The experience left them exhausted but deeply fulfilled, their lives enriched by the profound impact of giving. I wanted to share this experience with you, as it was a day that highlighted the beauty of human connection and the positive impact we can have on each other's lives. Here with Five Star Subaru we are dedicated to continue to find ways to spread kindness and make a difference in the lives of those around us.

Five Star Subaru Stands Strong For Breast Cancer Awareness - Taylor B.

In October, the Five Star Subaru team proudly wore pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The dealership turned into a pink haven as employees donned the color, showing their commitment to raising awareness and standing in solidarity with those affected by breast cancer. Five Star Subaru's participation goes above and beyond by reflecting their caring spirit and dedication to making a positive impact in the fight against breast cancer.

Five Star Subaru of Grapevine

Five Star Subaru host the annual adoption event with Operation Kindness - Abigail H.

Five Star Subaru and Operation Kindness joined forces for our annual Adoption event. This event was held in the showroom of Five Star Subaru where customers, employees, and the community gathered to provide each of the animals a forever home! Operation Kindness brought a litter of 7 to the event (Barbie, Margot, Allan, Will, Ryan, Greta, and Skipper) Five Star Subaru covered all adoption fees as well as handed out New Parent Kits to all the new adopted families. A special highlight of the event is when Greta was adopted. Her adopter Anthony, an employee at Subaru, carried her around throughout the duration of the event! He brought her up to the siblings one by one as they got adopted to say goodbye. Cookie and Walnut were two of the litter and them getting adopted together was very exciting! The family had just lost two of their dogs and were huge animal lovers (they even mentioned buying a run-down house purely because it had lots of land for the dogs). So, they were very excited to fill the space. Their own child was trying to convince the adults to get both, but they were worried that they wouldn’t get along. As they were deciding which puppy to get, the family members holding Cookie and Walnut got close enough for the puppies to sniff each other and they immediately gave each other big kisses on the face, at that point the family was sold. Another fun activity during the event was the Solar Eclipse! The community gathered and shared a pair of glasses for everyone to look at the eclipse and look at something that was very rare. Even the adopters were thinking of eclipse-themed names! In conclusion, this event brought lots of love, laughter and most of all, provided new homes for the puppies that needed a family!

Operation Kindess

Keep Grapevine Beautiful GIVES Grant Finalist - April R.

Keep Grapevine Beautiful is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023 GIVES Grant Program, a remarkable initiative aimed at supporting schools and organizations dedicated to environmental stewardship and community beautification. This year, in collaboration with Five Star Subaru-Grapevine, four outstanding projects were selected to receive grants, each making a significant contribution to the areas of litter prevention, waste reduction, or beautification. The deserving winners of the GIVES Grant Program and their respective projects are as follows: 1. Grapevine High School Ecology Center - $1,000 Purpose: Enhancement of directional signage within the Ecology Center, including a comprehensive map, labels, and information for key features such as the pollinator garden, nature trail, pond/waterfall, and Veterans Memorial Walk. The grant will also support the installation of interpretive signage throughout the center. 2. Grapevine Elementary School PTA - $1,500 Purpose: Replacement of three aging raised beds to create a space for students to plant and harvest herbs and vegetables. Additionally, the project includes the addition of 15 perennial plants to establish an urban sensory area and the installation of a compost bin. 3. Heritage Elementary School Garden Club - $1,250 Purpose: Repair and rebuild the outdoor garden fence, maintenance of existing vegetable beds, and overall improvement of the school garden. 4. Holy Trinity Catholic School - $600 Purpose: Funding towards the installation of one raised garden bed and one rain catcher, supporting initiatives such as composting, native planting, and landscape improvements. These grants will empower the awardees to undertake impactful projects that promote sustainability, environmental awareness, and community engagement. Keep Grapevine Beautiful extends its sincere appreciation to all participants for their innovative efforts in making Grapevine a more beautiful and sustainable community. A special thank you goes to Five Star Subaru-Grapevine for their invaluable partnership and commitment to community betterment. Their support has played a pivotal role in the success of the GIVES Grant Program, and we look forward to continuing this impactful collaboration in the years to come. Keep Grapevine Beautiful remains steadfast in its mission to foster environmental responsibility and community pride. The GIVES Grant Program is a shining example of what can be achieved when organizations and businesses come together for a common cause. For more information visit KeepGrapevineBeautiful.org

Grapevine Parks and Rec

Five Star Subaru Supports Canine Companions: A Heartwarming Graduation Ceremony - Laura M.

On November 4th, the community of Five Star Subaru gathered to celebrate an extraordinary event—the quarterly Canine Companions graduation ceremony. This heartwarming gathering brought together people and pups, all with one common purpose: to change the lives of individuals with disabilities. The Canine Companions movement is an inspiring one, dedicated to enhancing the lives of those who require assistance due to physical or cognitive disabilities. The organization, founded over four decades ago, has been instrumental in training and providing highly skilled service dogs. These canine heroes offer not only companionship but also an unwavering support system to individuals with a range of disabilities. This graduation ceremony was particularly special, as it marked the culmination of a journey for five remarkable dogs who were about to become forever companions to people with disabilities. These canines, each with their unique abilities, had undergone extensive training, transforming into valuable partners for those in need. The ceremony was a celebration of their accomplishments and the bond they would soon share with their new families. The atmosphere at the event was incredibly emotional and moving. As the dogs showcased their skills and the incredible tasks they could perform, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. The audience marveled at the dogs' intelligence, dedication, and the genuine connection they shared with their puppy raisers, trainers and new partners. The highlight of the afternoon was when each of the five dogs took their turn to graduate, walking proudly across the stage alongside their puppy raisers. The audience applauded their achievements and the promise of better days ahead for the recipients. The generosity of Five Star Subaru did not end with their attendance at the event. The organization went above and beyond by providing kits to all the families who would be taking one of these special dog’s home. The kits contained toys, leashes, treats, and a special certificate ensuring that these new partnerships would start on the right paw. The graduation ceremony wasn't just about the dogs and their training; it was a testament to the power of community support. The collaboration between Canine Companions, Five Star Subaru, as well as lots of other sponsors, demonstrated that when businesses come together with a shared mission of improving lives, extraordinary things can happen. The afternoon’s events served as a reminder that it is not just the dogs who transform lives but the entire network of support behind them. Through their dedication and compassion, both Canine Companions and Five Star Subaru have made a meaningful impact on the lives of those with disabilities, forging bonds that are sure to last a lifetime. About Canine Companions: Canine Companions is leading the service dog industry so our clients and their dogs can live with greater independence. Canine Companions provides service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings at no cost to clients. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has six regions across the country serving all 50 states. Learn more at canine.org.

Five Star Subaru Sponsors Pros and Joes Golf Tournament - Taylor B.

Five Star Subaru is a proud sponsor of the Pros and Joes Golf Tournament. The annual event benefits the Urology Research and Education Foundation and Holy Angels of Shreveport. Five Star Subaru makes a $2800 donation yearly and participates in the golf tournament where we support and spread awareness for these two wonderful foundations. This years event is November 20th, 2023. Urology research and education foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing knowledge about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of medical conditions affecting men through education, community service and research. Holy Angels is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides love, support, and empowerment through residential services, job training, and meaningful work for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Their mission is to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities a path to self-fulfillment through education, empowerment, spirituality, independence, and work.

Five Star Subaru of Grapevine

Five Star’s Annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s Support - Taylor B.

Every year, the Five Star Subaru family donates $5000 to the Alzheimer’s association but Five Star doesn’t stop there. They come together, driven by a shared purpose. On October 21st, over 30 enthusiastic employees gathered at the dealership, all sporting matching purple "Walk to End Alzheimer's" shirts, memorabilia, and holding vibrant flowers and signs. As the sun painted the sky with shades of blue, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of unity and determination. The employees, with smiles on their faces and the cause in their hearts, were ready to embark on their annual mile-long walk. With a sense of purpose and a deep commitment to raising awareness for Alzheimer's, the Five Star Subaru team set out on their journey. Two laps around the dealership, totaling one mile, became a symbolic walk of hope and support. With every step, they carried the memories of loved ones affected by this relentless disease. Their path was lined with colorful flowers and inspiring signs, each one a symbol of encouragement and determination. Vehicles in passing couldn't help but be drawn to the group's vibrant display of unity and support and showed their support by honking for the team. The employees' dedication and passion shined brightly, illuminating the mission to end Alzheimer's. As they walked, they captured the moments through photographs, sharing their journey on social media. Each post was a call to action, inviting customers and friends to join them in this important cause. The message was clear: together, we can make a difference. The annual walk wasn't just about covering a mile. It was about spreading love, awareness, and hope. It was a reminder that, when a community stands together, they can be a powerful force for change. In the end, the Five Star Subaru team's walk was more than just a physical activity. It was a powerful demonstration of their commitment to ending Alzheimer's and a reminder that their support and love could make a profound difference in the lives of those affected by this challenging disease.

Five Star Subaru of Grapevine

Five Star Subaru Shines at Annual Festival of Friends - Elizabeth G.

On October 26th, Five Star Subaru had the privilege of being the title sponsor at the Annual Festival of Friends hosted by Serving our Seniors (SOS). This remarkable event, held under the theme of 'Sapphires and Stetsons,' brought together a community of individuals dressed in their finest Western outfits, all with a shared goal – to support the noble cause of SOS. Serving our Seniors, a dedicated organization committed to improving the lives of senior citizens in our community, has been at the heart of Five Star Subaru's mission for many years. The dealership's partnership with SOS, formerly known as Mid-cities, is a testament to their unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of our seniors. The night was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a strong sense of community as Tony Hooman, the General Manager of Five Star Subaru, and David Cheney, the General Sales Manager, along with ten other Five Star Subaru representatives, attended the event to show their unwavering support. The evening was not only a feast for the senses with a delectable meal but also a feast for the soul as a silent auction, a not-so-silent auction, and a night filled with entertainment and fun. Over 350 people from all walks of life gathered to make the night truly special. The real magic happened when the final numbers were tallied. Thanks to the incredible generosity of those in attendance, Serving our Seniors raised an astounding $166,000! This amount will undoubtedly go a long way in furthering their mission of serving and improving the lives of senior citizens in our community. Five Star Subaru's participation as the title sponsor of the Festival of Friends was not just a responsibility; it was a heartfelt commitment to a cause that resonates with their values and principles. This event underlines their dedication to creating positive change in the community they are a part of, and it showcases the power of partnership between a responsible business and a remarkable organization like SOS. As Five Star Subaru and Serving our Seniors continue their journey together, they are committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of our seniors. The Festival of Friends was an unforgettable night, reminding everyone that when a community comes together, it can truly make a difference.

Five Star Subaru of Grapevine

Five Star Subaru and Grapevine Rotary Club join together for the annual Duck Races - Jessica C.

We're thrilled for the local students in GCISD who were awarded scholarships this year, thanks to the incredible support of our generous community partners, including Five Star Subaru of Grapevine. On a sunny Thursday, May 4th, a spectacular event unfolded as 2,500 vibrant yellow rubber ducks embarked on a thrilling race down the Great Wolf Lodge water slide, competing for fantastic prizes. Among the colorful flock, there were "plucked" ducks, a few quirky "lame" ducks, and, of course, the coveted 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners. This spirited gathering marked the annual Grapevine Rotary Rubber Duck race, a heartwarming tradition that raises funds to provide scholarships for deserving high school seniors in our area. Notably, Sam Pack's Five Star Subaru of Grapevine stood as a dedicated Event Sponsor for the fifth consecutive year. Their commitment went far beyond financial contributions; they shared their time and enthusiasm, making the event even more special. Five Star Subaru introduced exciting additions to the event, such as a lively dice roll for participating Rotarians and duck adoptees, who dared to dream of driving away in a brand-new Subaru. The race began with a thrilling moment as Subaru of Grapevine's very own Love Promise Champion, Ron Berman, and the rest of the Five Star team eagerly pulled the rope, releasing the ducks into the lazy river for their thrilling dash to the finish line. Adding to the excitement, and employee of Five Star Subaru, Jessica Bass, surprised everyone by arriving in full "shark" attire, injecting energy into the crowd and motivating the ducks to swim their fastest, fearing her pursuit. Five Star Subaru's support extended far beyond race day. They contributed $2,500 annually, a gesture many companies make for fundraising events, but they took it a step further. They actively assisted in the adoption of ducks, served on the event planning committee, promoted Rotary's noble cause at their dealership, and actively participated in the annual Grapevine Rotary Duck Race. Although Five Star Subaru is one of the largest and most successful dealerships in Texas, they don't simply focus on their business. Their mission transcends car sales and leasing; they aspire to make a meaningful impact in their community, and they undeniably succeed. On behalf of the Grapevine Rotary Club and the countless students who have benefited from educational scholarships, we express our heartfelt gratitude to Five Star Subaru for their enduring commitment to these annual scholarship fundraisers. In 2022 alone, their support helped raise an impressive $25,000 towards scholarships. Five Star Subaru eagerly anticipate our continued partnership and more delightful "Shark-Nanigans" in the upcoming Rubber Duck Race, which was an absolute hit among children and adults alike. Together, we are making a profound difference in the lives of our local students, helping them achieve their dreams through education.

Back To School Bash 2023 - Jessica W.

Uplift Education extends its heartfelt gratitude to Five Star Subaru of Grapevine for their unwavering support of Uplift Grand Preparatory School. On August 31, the retailer hosted a Subaru Loves Learning® celebration for our primary students, marking a very special moment in our ongoing partnership. Five Star Subaru of Grapevine hosted a morning of excitement, bringing together over 800 primary students and their teachers. The event included a spirited pep rally and awards were presented to teachers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and excellence in their work, as recognized through the national Subaru Loves Learning program. Subaru made a $2,000 donation that we absolutely needed for the needs of the new school year. Lastly, Five Star Subaru handed out 821 snow cones to all the students and staff that attended the celebration. Danielle Alexander, Academic Director of Uplift Grand Primary School, said, "We are profoundly grateful for the support from Five Star Subaru, who have been incredible advocates of Uplift Grand Preparatory for many years. This event has become a wonderful tradition for our students and families, and we appreciate their support of our teachers and scholars." Philanthropic contributions play a pivotal role in bridging the gap and sustaining Uplift's signature programs. These programs are designed to foster academic excellence while prioritizing the well-being of our scholars and guiding them along individual pathways to college and careers. Partners like Five Star Subaru are the difference maker because the investments support Uplift scholars on their individual pathway to reaching their highest potential. “We can’t wait to see what our scholars can do when they have teachers, parents and a whole community supporting them in achieving their dreams,” said Alexander. “We are very proud of our scholars and enjoy having partners that celebrate our teachers for all they do to educate and guide our scholars to pursue the best pathway for them.” Our sincere thanks goes to Five Star Subaru for their continued support of Uplift Education. Together, we are empowering our scholars to learn, engage, and aspire to reach their fullest potential. Through our combined efforts, we are shaping a brighter future and making a positive impact on our world.

SubieFest 2023 - Taylor B.

Subiefest TX 2023 was a whirlwind of excitement for Sam Pack's Five Star Subaru of Grapevine, and it would be a story they would remember for years to come. As the sun rose over the Texan horizon, Subiefest TX, an annual celebration of all things Subaru, was about to kick off, and the dealership was gearing up for an unforgettable day. Subaru enthusiasts from all corners of the state were expected to descend upon the event, and Five Star Subaru was determined to make their mark. The event itself was nothing short of spectacular. Subiefest TX had it all – a dazzling array of Subarus, from vintage classics to the latest models, competitions that revved hearts, demonstrations that left spectators in awe, and meet-and-greets with Subaru legends like Scott Speed and Bucky Lasek. Autocross racing, delicious food trucks, lively entertainment, raffles that promised big wins, and a bustling Subaru Gear Store all added to the excitement. This year's Subiefest was destined for greatness from the start, shattering records as 3,840 enthusiasts flocked to the event, setting a new attendance record for inaugural Subiefest gatherings. But it wasn't just about numbers; it was about community, generosity, and making a difference. Five Star Subaru was at the heart of the action. With over 30 enthusiastic employees, their booth was a hub of activity. Attendees eagerly lined up for giveaways, and lucky winners walked away with prizes that included a Thule roof basket, a sleek Subaru bicycle, and three coveted Subaru pop-up tents. But the dealership's commitment to giving back didn't stop there. They offered up a 2022+ WRX STI Lip Kit, a prized possession worth $1,600, for the raffle. Each raffle ticket sold meant a $5 donation to the SPCA. With 78 tickets sold, their initial donation of $390 was impressive. Yet, in a heartwarming gesture, they decided to double the donation, ultimately contributing a total of $780 to support animal welfare. One touching moment that would be remembered for years to come unfolded when a couple decided to adopt a dog during the event. They paid an adoption fee of $75, but little did they know, an unexpected surprise awaited them. Doug Laymon, a manager at Five Star Subaru, was so moved by their act of compassion that he decided to reimburse the couple. Their gratitude was beyond words. But the surprises didn't end there. Doug Laymon, joined by his son and another manager with Five Star Subaru, Jeff Davis, embarked on a mission of spreading joy. They ventured through the event, selecting a random Subaru enthusiast, and, with smiles on their faces, gave away an Aeroflow Dynamics Lip Kit, Canards, and Splitter worth a staggering $900, all broadcasted live on Facebook. The lucky recipient was left stunned and overjoyed. The dealership's booth became a community hotspot, attracting over two thousand visitors who eagerly participated in their raffle drawings. It was more than just business; it was about forging connections with Subaru enthusiasts, customers, and members of the passionate Subaru community. As the day drew to a close, Five Star Subaru looked to the future with excitement and anticipation. Their commitment to engaging with the Subaru community and giving back to their community through charitable contributions remained unwavering. Subiefest TX 2023 had not only been a successful event for Subaru as a whole but also a triumph for Five Star Subaru, leaving a lasting legacy of generosity, community spirit, and customer appreciation.

Five Star Subaru of Grapevine

Subaru Share the Love Parade - Taylor B.

The “Subaru Share the Love Event® Parade" hosted by Five Star Subaru of Grapevine is an annual parade dedicated to celebrating the spirit of giving and community support. This heartwarming event shines a spotlight on two remarkable charities, "Serving our Seniors" and "GRACE," both of which have been making a significant difference in the lives of people in the local community. "Serving our Seniors" is an organization that focuses on assisting and uplifting senior citizens in Grapevine and the surrounding areas. Their mission is to provide essential resources, companionship, and care to seniors who may be facing challenges, loneliness, or financial hardships. Through various initiatives and volunteer efforts, they ensure that the elderly in the community is not forgotten and have access to the support they need. "GRACE" is another prominent charity that plays a vital role in improving the lives of families and individuals facing difficult circumstances. They tackle issues related to poverty, hunger, housing, and healthcare, aiming to empower people and offer them a chance to build a better future. Their commitment to creating a stronger, more compassionate community aligns perfectly with the values upheld by Five Star Subaru. On Tuesday May 16th, during the Subaru Share the Love® Event Parade, Five Star Subaru of Grapevine collaborated closely with these two charities to raise awareness and funds for their respective causes. The event typically starts with a vibrant parade, where community members, Subaru enthusiasts, and representatives from both charities come together to march, drive decorated cars, and display banners, showcasing the spirit of solidarity. Following the parade, there are often engaging activities and entertainment organized at the dealership. Local businesses and vendors frequently participate, offering their support and contributing to the festivities. It's a day filled with joy, laughter, and a sense of unity as the community comes together to celebrate the good work done by Serving our Seniors and GRACE. One of the highlights of the event was the charitable donations that Five Star Subaru of Grapevine pledges for every Subaru vehicle sold during the event's duration. This year, with the help of customers, Five Star Subaru and a personal contribution from Sam Pack himself, we were able to raise a combined total of $223,692 for these deserving charities! Clapping, complete joy, happy tears and lots of hugs filled the room when these checks were presented. Overall, the Share the Love Event is a heartwarming celebration of compassion, generosity, and kindness, reinforcing the belief that by coming together as a community, we can create positive change and help those who need it the most.

A Miracle in May for Pediatric Epilepsy - Dario H.

Mickie’s Miracles is a nonprofit that advocates for children battling pediatric epilepsy to get an urgent diagnosis at the highest level of treatment possible to preserve quality of life, and in some cases prevent loss of life. Mickie’s Miracles began after CEO/Visionary Founder Kristie Griess and her husband Gabe experienced their daughter Mikayla having a seizure at just 3 months of age. What followed were visits to multiple hospitals/specialists on Kristie’s journey to save her daughter’s life. After over 8 months of failed medication protocols and more questions than answers, the Griess Family found themselves at Children’s Hospital of Orange County under the care of Pediatric Epileptologist Dr. Mary Zupanc. One day before Mickie’s 1st birthday, Dr. Z performed brain surgery to remove the parietal, temporal and occipital lobe of the left hemisphere of Mickie's brain. After being told Mickie may never walk, talk, or even survive, she is now a thriving, seizure-free 11-year-old. Mickie is a sassy, fearless fashionista who dances, plays soccer, swims, and sings. As Dad Gabe Griess puts it, “They cut out fear from Mickie’s brain when they performed that surgery.” On May 3rd, Mickie’s Miracles and Sam Pack's Five Star Subaru of Grapevine partnered for the 'Miracle in May' watch party that took place at their dealership. Discussions for the event began December of 2022, when Jessica Bass at Five Star Subaru approached Kristie after hearing her speak about Mickie's Miracles at a Grapevine Rotary Club meeting. She expressed how moved she was by Mickie's story and asked how they could help. After many heartfelt discussions and some brainstorming, everything came to fruition at the end of the 1st quarter in 2023. What followed was an impressive effort of collaboration and community mobilization spearheaded by Mickie’s Miracles and Five Star Subaru's Love Promise® Community Relations team (Jessica Bass, Taylor Ates, and others). They helped organize the many event particulars and generously provided exciting auction prizes (a Subaru Outdoor Travel Package, Subaru Pet Lovers Package, and a Weekend Warrior Package). Overall, the team came together to round out an impressive grassroots and social media marketing effort to create a fun and meaningful night to remember. Over $10,000 was raised to help Mickie’s Miracles save children's lives, including those suffering from epilepsy here in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex. Five Star Subaru created the fundraising momentum by donating $3,000, the packages mentioned above, the physical space, seating, food, refreshments, and more. All done with enthusiasm and excitement for this beautiful community collaboration. Most importantly, the resources raised through 'Miracle in May' will go directly to families when they need it most. Pediatric epilepsy is incredibly dangerous to a child’s developing brain and can often lead to permanent brain damage or even death if left undiagnosed or untreated. Most aren’t aware of the urgency needed or that 1 in 26 people will experience epilepsy in their lifetime. Epilepsy is more prevalent than Autism, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and Cerebral Palsy combined. By the time most parents find Mickie’s Miracles for help, significant time has been lost and months of undiagnosed or mistreated epilepsy has wreaked havoc on their child’s brain. That’s why the work Mickie’s Miracles does is so important. They urgently advocate for children to get to Level IV Pediatric Epilepsy Centers and don’t take no for an answer. Whatever it takes, Mickie’s get their families to the front of the line to stem the potential brain damage and provide these sweet souls with the opportunity for the quality of life every child deserves. Amazingly, the upfront advocacy is only the beginning of Mickie’s Miracles’ work with families. Once a child has gone through the testing, diagnosis, and treatment protocol, Mickie’s lovingly puts its arms around these families every step of the way. They provide emotional support, connect families to other families who understand the difficulty of pediatric epilepsy, and to required resources (monitoring and social services). Additionally, they sponsor the Caring for Caregivers Mental Health Program, a practical mental health support system for caregivers of medically complex children and Beyond Diagnosis, a program helping parents learn what to expect along every season of the long and often difficult post diagnosis journey. The heartwarming testimonies from Mom's at the 'Miracle in May' event sharing how their sweet child likely wouldn’t be alive without Mickie’s Miracles embodies the Subaru Love Promise down to its very core. Mickie's is blessed for the partnership with the Five Star Subaru family whose compassion and support are making a meaningful difference in so many lives. The 'Miracle in May' virtual fundraising watch party was a huge success and it's without a doubt that Five Star Subaru Loves to Care®.

Mickie’s Miracles

Five Star Subaru Loves the Earth GIVES Garden Refresh to Heritage Elementary School Students. - Karrie F.

In the early 2000, s our local partners, Keep Grapevine Beautiful helped build a garden on the Heritage Elementary School grounds to benefit our garden club students. Today, the Garden Club continues to thrive.The Garden Club is an ongoing, hands on learning club for students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade where they have the opportunity to work together with Master Gardeners in our community. Our meetings usually take place on the first Monday of the month right after school where garden club members learn about the importance of pollinators, preparing the soil to plant vegetables and flowers, and how to propagate plants. The children have the opportunity to harvest and take home the vegetables they planted which they find very rewarding and fun. With the help of our Community, Tarrant County Master Gardeners, and our Garden Club students, we continue weekly maintenance of our outdoor garden. However, after years of wear and tear from the extreme Texas weather, our garden was starting to break down and our raised beds began falling apart. We submitted a GIVES grant proposal to Keep Grapevine Beautiful for a good, better, and best request for funds to help with our garden makeover. A program that Sam Pack's Five Star Subaru of Grapevine have been the primary sponsor for giving $3,000 each year to help beautify our community through their Subaru Loves the Earth® initiative. We requested materials and supplies needed to rebuild our vegetable beds, to stain wood of new beds and gardening shed, paint our water barrel, garden mail box, garden signage, and update our garden defender (aka Tucker the scarecrow). Once we were told we were one of the three finalists, the Garden Club students presented their needs to the Keep Grapevine Beautiful board of directors which included Community Relations Coordinator Jessica Bass from Five Star Subaru of Grapevine. To our surprise, we were awarded beyond our ‘best’ request and granted $1,500. Five Star Subaru of Grapevine being an intricate part of the program spent time reviewing our application and helped with the decision to sponsor our program with a grant for even more than we were hoping for. On February 4th, our wonderful volunteers in the community, our Garden Club students and their families all came together to help during our Garden Refresh Day. Jessica, Shantai, and Ivette from Five Star Subaru of Grapevine were among the many volunteers ready to get their hands dirty and who sustained the energy of us all by bringing delicious cookies to snack on. We mulched the entire garden, built and filled 6 new raised garden beds with fresh soil, planted seasonal onions, and Tucker (our scarecrow mascot) received the ultimate makeover. The following Monday, we had our monthly Garden Club meeting and our students were beyond excited to see the nicely refreshed garden, including the larger beds for additional planting. Sam Pack's Five Star Subaru truly Loves the Earth and we couldn't be more grateful for your generous grant and help in making our Garden Refresh project a great success!

Heritage Elementary School Garden Club

Trykes for Tykes Holiday Celebration - Diane U.

What better way to start off a beautiful sunny December afternoon, than to gather together around the festive Christmas tree in the middle of Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru of Grapevine’s beautiful showroom with four new Amtrykes sporting extra-large green bows? Grapevine AMBUCS, with the help of Five Star Subaru, donated four Amtrykes to children who had never had the opportunity to have freedom of mobility. Each child, ranging from 3 years old to 12 years old, had huge smiles on their faces as they took off riding their new custom fit Amtrykes in Five Star Subaru’s parking lot. The sense of freedom and excitement on the children’s faces riding through the parking lot at the event for the very first time while everyone in the crowd cheered them on was truly a moving experience. One young man was noticeably leery of the crowd, but forgot his fears as he was put on his very own Tryke! Five Star Subaru even went the extra mile to invite Grapevines’ very own Dark Knight himself, Batman, to join in on the excitement and put such huge smiles on all of the kids’ faces! The parents looked so happy when they got to watch their children experience riding their Trykes for the very first time while meeting this superhero. The real challenge was rounding them back up to take a group picture! Five Star Subaru sure knows how to celebrate the season. Jessica Bass; the Community Relations Coordinator at Five Star Subaru, is a proud member of our Grapevine AMBUCS chapter and an active volunteer often helping to build and refurbish Trykes. She, along with her entire team, surprised us by presenting a $3,000 sponsorship. This meant that we had the funds to cover the cost of all the Amtrykes given to each of the children that day. Talk about showing the real Christmas Spirit! The Trykes cost at a minimum between $400 and $1,200 each depending on accessories. Now throw in the increases in cost that have occurred due to inflation. With COVID-19 and supply chain issues continuing to wreak havoc on the work that our small, but mighty Grapevine AMBUCS chapter tries hard to do for our community, it was a real blessing to have the support of Five Star Subaru on board to help us again in 2022. Our members volunteer at many venues to be able to keep the “wheels in motion” so to speak. Our AMBUCS chapter is one of the largest providers of Amtrykes in the United States due, in part, to the generosity of sponsors such as Five Star Subaru of Grapevine. One of our slogans is “every child deserves a bike”. But what if that child had a spinal or brain injury, spina bifida, or cerebral palsy? Not only would they not be able to ride a conventional bike, but they may not even be able to stay seated due to lack of trunk coordination. Or, what if they could not even walk? The Amtryke is a therapeutic Tryke that assists with all these issues and many more. Our philosophy is that parents have more expenses than anyone can imagine with a disabled child. Our plan is to work very hard to provide their child with an Amtryke for as long as they are getting a benefit: even into adulthood, and all at no cost to the family. Grapevine’s Mayor Pro Tem. and proud supporter of AMBUCS, Darlene Freed stated, “Each family showed up not knowing what to expect. The hospitality of the Grapevine AMBUCS, Five Star Subaru and their entire team, made this a very special event. The families were all touched by the joy their children experienced and each of them gave a huge “thank you” to the Grapevine AMBUCS who with the help of Five Star Subaru was able to do this for their child. This is why we do what we do and we so appreciate Five Star Subaru for their continued generous commitment to helping us help these children and their families.” We would like to again take this opportunity to express our genuine appreciation to our amazing community partners at Five Star Subaru of Grapevine for their generous continued support and Sponsorship of the 2022 Christmas Amtryke Giveaway.

Grapevine AMBUCS

Keep Grapevine Beautiful/ Five Star Subaru Loves the Earth GIVES Grant - Cindy H.

Since 2019, Keep Grapevine Beautiful has enjoyed a robust relationship with the amazing team at Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru of Grapevine who are dedicated to their commitment toward environmental stewardship. In keeping with Subaru’s Love Promise, to protect and preserve the Earth through action, Five Star Subaru participates in our Adopt-An-Area Program, provides sponsorship for the Keep Grapevine Beautiful Gives Grant Program and has chosen us to participate in two Car Meets for a Cause to help raise funds to assist the community. Keep Grapevine Beautiful Gives Grant Program provides cash awards to schools and organizations for litter prevention, waste reduction or beautification projects or programs. Examples of past projects include the purchase of a water bottle filling station, trash carts, and landscape improvements. Over the past four years, Five Star Subaru Grapevine has provided a total of $12,000 in funding to be disseminated each Fall to winners that are determined by the Keep Grapevine Beautiful Board and a Five Star Subaru Grapevine Representative. This year, Grapevine Faith Christian School was awarded $750 for enhancements at their baseball field entrance. Heritage Elementary School's Garden Club received $1,500 for beautification refresh of their school garden. The UNICEF Club from Colleyville Heritage High School received $750 to repaint the U.S. map at Grapevine Elementary School’s playground. Additional support by the Dealership includes Car Meet fundraisers, a donation of a TerraCycle snack wrapper box for placement in our Grapevine REC community center and a Subaru Loves the Earth bench made from TerraCycle recycled snack wrappers. Kathy Nelson, Executive Director of Keep Grapevine Beautiful states, “We greatly appreciate the good will and support that Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru Grapevine provides to our organization. Their generosity of donated resources and volunteer service allows us to expand our reach within the community.”

Keep Grapevine Beautiful

Subaru Shares the Love with Serving Our Seniors! - Elizabeth G.

On September 16th, Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru of Grapevine helped coordinate a special volunteer day where Subaru employees came to the aid of two senior neighbors. This group of hard-working volunteers provided seasonal yard cleanup for Ms. Doris and “Cherokee Mike.” Both SOS clients have expressed their gratitude for your efforts and were amazed by what the volunteers accomplished. Ms. Doris and her sister, Jane said “the volunteers did a FANTASTIC job and made Doris feel so proud.” The sisters came out and prayed over the volunteers as they finished beautifying the yard! Thank you to the amazing volunteers who came out from Subaru Corporate for sharing the love with our seniors. Serving Our Seniors could not do what we do without the help and support of our partnerships like Five Star Subaru of Grapevine and Subaru of America. SOS and our senior neighbors truly appreciate all that you do to help our community.

SOS Serving Our Seniors

Sam Pack's Five Star Subaru and Cook Children's Help Pediatric Patients Heal through Art - Megan H.

The Child Life Department here at Cook Children’s Medical Center has a BIG job to do. One of our goals is to help children cope through very hard situations. We do this with play, but children find it especially beneficial to heal through art. One of Subaru’s Love Promise campaigns is, Subaru Loves to Care. This campaign allowed us to partner with the team at Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru of Grapevine and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to provide an extra special event for our patients. Another wave of increased COVID-19 cases during this time made any in-person event or meeting impossible. This did not stop Jessica Bass and Shantai Isom at Five Star Subaru from figuring out a safe way to create a fun event to lift our spirits. Five Star Subaru truly Loves to Care and went the extra mile to give the children in our hospital something special. They partnered with us to provide a virtual art contest for our patients using arts and crafts kits that they graciously donated. Knowing that there would not be enough kits to cover all 65 pediatric patients attending the live art class, Jessica went above and beyond by reaching out to Subaru to ask if it were possible for an additional 40 kits to cover the difference needed to be sent for this event. To our surprise, Jessica, with the help of Subaru, made it happen! They were able to locate arts and crafts kits that were set aside from the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 that were unable to be delivered to hospitals due to the risk to patients during the shutdown. Now all the kids were able to participate in a healing through art class using the contents of their Subaru Loves to Care tin lunch boxes. This was such a wonderful surprise to all of us. Shantai Isom and Jessica Bass were special co-hosts for the Healing through Art activity show. This show was aired on, “The Child Life Zone Network”, a live stream TV station that is viewable for patients to join along either in person or from their hospital rooms. During the live activity show, Shantai and I demonstrated some projects that could be completed using items from the Subaru Art Kits with the theme “Love to Care.” Patients had the option to follow along with the projects being shown in the live class or create beautiful works of art on their own. An origami heart and a painted paper heart were created during the live video class and attendees were asked to text in a picture of their final artwork to be submitted into the art contest. The patients’ projects were then displayed on Cook Children’s Instagram stories where the community could send a message with their vote. Thanks to Five Star Subaru of Grapevine, the top three vote getters received special Subaru mystery prize bags. One of our staff members at Cook Children’s whose patient won a mystery bag, described how the patient poured over his project all day long. Another patient provided the feedback that her favorite part was just getting to create, and the box was “full of fun.” She loved the clay and the paint especially! Her parent chimed in with how grateful she was to have a smile brought to her child’s face! Art therapy provides a safe place for children to express their feelings and emotions. It can help improve a child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. It really helped our patients and staff to take their minds off any struggles for a little while and create art. We could not provide these events without partnerships who think outside the box to create these special events for our very special children! Thank you, Sam Pack’s Five Star team and Subaru loves to Care, for caring so much!

Cook Children's Medical Center

Sam Pack's Five Star Subaru Launches Operation "Beat the Heat" Amid Heatwave. - Jessica J B.

Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru of Grapevine Launches Campaign to "Beat the Heat" by Donating A/C Units to Vulnerable Families Amid Heatwave. Tucked away in the pockets of our quaint little City of Grapevine, TX there are many individuals and families struggling to get by. With gas prices soaring, food deserts popping up, and housing next to unaffordable, there was now an added burden of the elderly and those with chronic illnesses at risk without AC in lower income areas amid a Texas heat wave.  In the months of July through September, Texas along with many other parts of the country experienced devastating heat and very minimal rainfall during the peak of our summer. After enduring 67 consecutive days without measurable precipitation and consistent 100+ degree temperatures, our team at Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru of Grapevine were discussing our concern for individuals in the community who were at risk from the heat we'd been experiencing. We knew it was our Subaru Love Promise mission to do whatever we could to help our neighbors who were without sufficient access to air conditioning. So, our team at Five Star Subaru put our heads together and came up with a plan to extend compassion and assistance to those suffering through the brutal summer heat inside their homes. With referrals from our charity partners, GRACE- Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange, we identified eight different households in need and found a way to provide them with air conditioners and the means to afford the additional electricity required to run them. This began the Five Star Subaru "Beat the Heat" initiative. Five Star Subaru consistently helps GRACE not only financially, but through our ongoing volunteering efforts to help families in the community with the assistance and resources they need to get by. This year alone, Five Star Subaru has already aided their efforts with over $111,000 through hosted events and donations to provide more than 72,000 service units to nearly 4,400 local families and counting. These services include programs such as a community medical clinic, food pantry, community garden, housing assistance, and many other essential services. However, nobody expected the added burden of heat related illnesses due to lack of sufficient cooling. That is where we knew we needed to step in and really make a positive impact. "We are trying to do our part to help improve people's quality of life. I think that's simply put, right? For most of us, the record-breaking heat is little more than a nuisance. We can usually find relief in our air-conditioned offices or homes. However, for our elderly, disabled, or just those homebound who cannot afford to fix their window units or replace their HVAC system, this heat can cause devastating living conditions." said Jessica Bass Community Relations Coordinator for Five Star Subaru. “Excessive outdoor temperatures can push indoor ambient temperatures to dangerously high levels for seniors. That’s why it’s so important for older adults to have access to portable AC units when air conditioning systems are unavailable or insufficient.” We had wonderful volunteer assistance from members of our Five Star Subaru family who all did their part to make this possible. Taylor Greene, Nick Eyster, Myles Ramos our Sales Team provided the muscle to transport the units. David Cheney our General Sales Manager, Ron Berman and Shantai Isom our Subaru Love Promise Champions, David Earnest our Shuttle Driver, Tony Hooman our GM and Jessica Bass our Community Relations Coordinator all volunteered to help make multiple trips to deliver a total of eight A/C units to individuals and their families in need of relief. What Love Promise Moments! Thanks to all for supporting this wonderful way to help others in need. We were all deeply moved to see the relief on these individuals faces when we hooked up and turned on the AC units for them. Mark Woolverton, CFRE, Chief Development Officer of GRACE charities sent a handwritten note thanking our team at Five Star Subaru for the Air Conditioners that were donated and delivered to the families in need. His words, “Thank you so very much for your very thoughtful efforts to make the lives of some of our clients more comfortable and productive. The conditions in the homes of our clients during the desperately hot summer months is so very oppressive. Our Senior clients and patients from our Community Clinic can now enjoy their homes more and have brand new outlooks on life because of you! On their behalf, thank you!" As the Texas summer heat has finally sizzled out, our Five Star team reflects on the eight families that we were able to help. While we continue to care for others who are less fortunate, we are humbled to have been able to come together once again to help our community and make a positive impact on the safety of our neighbors who so desperately needed relief.

An Uplifting Five Star Subaru Loves Learning Back-to-School Bash - Christian C.

Uplift Education is incredibly grateful for Five Star Subaru of Grapevine’s support of Uplift Grand Preparatory School and for hosting a special Subaru Loves Learning celebration for our primary students on August 26. Investing in Uplift Education helps develop globally minded scholars who are college-ready and stay on track to earn a college degree and become leaders in their community. While we have an amazing team of educators and administrators, we know that our goals cannot be reached without partners like Subaru. “I have loved being a partner with Subaru, especially the Grapevine retailer. They are on the other side of the Metroplex and for them to be so committed to us all the way in our community speaks volumes to the work that we’re doing here in this neighborhood and to Uplift broadly,” said Christian Martinez-Canchola, Academic Director of Uplift Grand Preparatory Primary School in Grand Prairie, Texas. The amazing team from Five Star Subaru of Grapevine included Jessica Bass, Shantai Isom, and Ron Berman who hosted an afternoon of fun at our school for more than 800 primary students. This back-to-school bash included a pep rally to distribute awards to our amazing teachers who have been recognized for their exemplary work through the national Subaru Loves Learning Adopt-A-Classroom program. This year alone, Five Star Subaru generously donated well over $10,600 to cover the gap in school supplies that were much needed in the classrooms to help our teachers and students thrive this school year. They also sponsored exciting entertainment, including a Subaru bean bag toss game with prizes for all the students and a refreshing snow cone treat which was enjoyed by all while catching a break from the Texas summer heat. “They have loved on our teachers. They continue to give grants to our teachers. They spoiled them silly on Teacher Appreciation Day, which was not something the teachers were expecting. The love that our teachers feel from people who don’t see the day to day shows that Subaru has a true appreciation for the hard work that teachers do." Thank you to Five Star Subaru of Grapevine for your wonderful support partnering with Uplift to teach, engage and inspire our scholars to reach their highest potential and change our world.

Uplift Education

Cruisin' for a Cause Remembering Ethan Knight. - Jessica J B.

It’s said that, “If you build it, they will come.” Well, at the beginning of 2021, we did just that. Many were ready to get outside after being cooped up inside their homes during the pandemic, so our team at Sam Pack’s Five Star Subaru of Grapevine joined forces with our loyal community partners to bring people back together. We hit the ground running inviting all of our passionate performance car lovers to come together for a Car Meet that supported a cause! The initial reaction was overwhelming, car enthusiasts came from all over and were excited to be a part of an event where they could bring their hooked up JDM vehicles. Each event we host has been an absolute joy. Picture this...50 to 80 cars (mainly Subaru's) exiting the highway to turn into our dealership grounds. Each time I picture it, I imagine the theme song from The Good the Bad and the Ugly playing in the background. It’s a scene to remember. It is impressive to see the commitment each of these Subaru owners has in building, designing, lighting, and styling their vehicles. There are always a handful of Legacies and Impreza’s to be seen, but the real standouts are the “rally cars”: the turbo charged WRXs and STIs, the vintage models of which are often cherished as much, if not more, than the brand-new ones. It’s not uncommon for fellow Subaru owners to excitedly give one another a two-finger steering wheel salute when spotting an oncoming hood scoop. Subaru owners truly embrace the culture and comradery which is one of the many things I love most about Subaru. Not to mention, we have the privilege of hosting everyone at Five Star Subaru! However, on June 28th, 2021, the Subaru community was hit hard after an unexpected death of our friend Ethan Knight. It was just another day for Ethan who was at work doing routine maintenance on a natural gas pipeline when an unexpected explosion occurred that took his life. When our Five Star Family heard about the unfortunate accident, it hit us right in the gut. Ethan was a positive light to everyone around him and he loved bringing his 2020 Subaru WRX that he proudly called “White Knight” to our monthly Car Meets. Ethan had several hobbies, one of which being his passion for working on his car. He was proud of his WRX and enjoyed cruising around with his friends from the Subaru club, Team Boxer Squad North Texas. Ethan and the club consistently attended our car meets and always showed up in style. Not only were Ethan and his group punctual, but they also truly believe in the Subaru Love Promise. Their group consistently go above and beyond by supporting our events and bringing multiple donations to those in need. Because of Ethan’s enthusiasm and the relationship we built between him and Team Boxer Squad, we wanted to act. Although there isn’t anything we can do to bring him back, we wanted to do something meaningful with his family and close friends to help ease their pain and comfort them through their mourning. Last July, following Ethan’s passing, we had our regularly scheduled car meet ‘Park for Parkinson’s' where we raised over $1400 towards the Parkinson’s Foundation. In light of recent news, we also made sure to celebrate Ethan’s life. There were many touching, heartfelt and happy moments reminiscing about Ethan. Family and friends gathered together around his perfectly detailed WRX to share stories giving those who may not have known him very well a glimpse of the amazing person that he was on a more personal level. During the car meet, many came together to collect donations to complete Ethan’s dream project on his 2020 WRX. Although no dollar amount could ever take away the pain losing Ethan has caused, Five Star Subaru contributed a $500 check to his family to help take care of anything this unexpected loss had on them. It was humbling to see many in our community willing to step in and help. Five Star Subaru, Team Boxer Squad, Kraken Motorsports, friends, family, and community all did their part to turn Ethan’s dream for his @WhiteKnightWRX into a reality. June 28th, 2022 was the one-year anniversary of Ethan’s passing and not a day goes by that he isn't missed. Instead of a car meet in June, our Five Star Subaru crew and those who wanted to do something special to remember Ethan decided on a Cruise for a Cause in his name. The day began with a meet up hosted by Five Star Subaru with Team Boxer Squad and friends of Ethan. Five Star's Jessica Bass and Doug Laymon facilitated the gathering for everyone with tacos, fellowship, and laughter. Lunch was followed by group pictures before departing together on a drive to some of Ethan's favorite spots. We made a pit stop for some bowling courtesy of Kraken Motorsports and continued on for an emotional, yet joyful day. There's no better feeling than to cruise around town in your favorite Subaru all for such an amazing cause...Remembering our friend and loyal Subaru enthusiast, Ethan Shawn Knight. Until we meet again for a joy ride, Rest in Bliss.