Boardman Subaru Donates $55K to Ohio Children's Hospital

When Rob Fellman opened his Subaru dealership in Boardman, Ohio, he wanted to do more than sell cars. Now, 12 years later, his business has generated nearly $500,000 for Mahoning Valley families in need.

Boardman Subaru just donated $55,000 to two local charities through the 2025 Share the Love event. Akron Children's Boardman campus received over $34,000, while Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley got more than $20,000.

The program works beautifully. When someone buys or leases a new Subaru between November 20 and January 2, Subaru of America donates $250 to the customer's charity of choice. Boardman Subaru adds extra funds on top of that for their local partners.

Customers can pick from national organizations like the ASPCA, Meals on Wheels, and Make A Wish. But Valley residents overwhelmingly choose to support their neighbors. This year, over $50,000 of the $75,000 raised stayed right in the community.

Paul Olivier, vice president of the Akron Children's Boardman campus, says the money goes straight to patient care operations. His emergency room treats 100 children every single day, and donations like these help ensure no child gets turned away based on their family's ability to pay.

Renee Fuller, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank, has even better news. The $20,000 donation will provide 115,000 meals for hungry families in the Valley.

The Ripple Effect

The timing couldn't be better. Fuller explains that summer donations typically drop off, even though kids home from school need extra meals they normally get at school. The burden falls harder on parents and grandparents during these months.

Boardman Subaru has partnered with Akron Children's since 2013 and supported Second Harvest through Share the Love for five years running. What started as one dealership owner wanting to give back has become a powerful tradition that feeds thousands and heals hundreds.

Fellman's philosophy is simple. "Nobody should go hungry," he says. "They treat every child like it was their own."