"Subaru Loves Learning" Celebrates the Importance of Education

Each August, hundreds of Subaru dealer across the country, including Ferguson Subaru, participate in Subaru of America's “Subaru Loves Learning” initiative. During the “Subaru Loves Learning” initiative, Subaru retailers are paired with local schools in an effort to bring the world of science, engineering, and innovation to local students. 

The initiative is in partnership with American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Subaru dealers and AAAS work to engage young minds by donating a diverse array of award-winning science books and much-needed school supplies. For 2018, Ferguson Subaru has been matched with Kendall-Whittier Elementary School, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Through the “Subaru Loves Learning” initiative, Ferguson Subaru has teamed up with Kendall-Whittier Elementary since 2015. 

Throughout August, Oklahomans are encouraged to visit our Broken Arrow, Subaru dealership. Visitors to our Subaru showroom can ask to have a book donated in their name and can write an inspirational note of encouragement, on a bookmark, to be placed inside the donated book. Ferguson Subaru will also have school supply collection boxes for visitors to donate essential school supplies, like pencils, erasers, notebooks, backpacks, and more. 

After August, Ferguson Subaru will donate the award-winning science books to Kendall-Whittier Elementary School. These books have been selected from the winners and finalists of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, which celebrates outstanding science writing and illustration for children and young adults. Selected books are scientifically sound and foster an understanding and appreciation of science, in readers of all ages. 

Ferguson Subaru believes education is a fundamental right and is dedicated to helping local students receive the highest accessibility, to learning, as possible. Ferguson Subaru is proud to be a part of the "Subaru Loves Learning” initiative. Ferguson Subaru is proud to partner with Kendall-Whittier Elementary School.

Our Pursuit Of Making Knowledge Available To As Many Minds As Possible

Ferguson Subaru is proud to call Oklahoma home. While there is plenty for Oklahoma to be proud about, it's well known that the education system in our state is hurting. According to the National Education Association, Oklahoma ranks 49th in expenditures per student [1] and 48th in average salaries for public school teachers [2]. 

On top of being paid well below the national average, Oklahoma teachers, on average, spend up to $500 of their own money, each year, on supplies for their classrooms. Needless to say, it's not always easy to be a teacher in the state of Oklahoma. 

At Ferguson Subaru we have a Love Promise commitment to making a positive impact in the world in which we live and work. It’s our aim to spread this impact as far as we can. As part of our Subaru Loves Learning initiative - to make the pursuit of knowledge available to as many minds as possible - Ferguson Subaru teamed up with Kendall Whittier Elementary for our 2016 Subaru School Supply Drive. 

Kendall-Whittier is an elementary school located in north-central Tulsa, just west of the University of Tulsa campus. The school has been providing students in the area a place to grow and learn for generations. Kendall-Whittier Elementary is a lighthouse to our community. According to the school, “As a Title I school, we don’t require that students bring school supplies at the beginning of the year to respect the limited financial situations of many of our families.” 

For the 2016 Subaru School Supply Drive, Ferguson Subaru raised school supplies during the month of August. At the end of the month, our Ferguson team, along with Fergie Bear - our Tulsa-area community mascot - drove a stuffed Subaru Crosstrek to Kendall-Whittier Elementary, and presented teachers with the donations. In the spirit of making a positive impact, Ferguson Subaru also donated $500 to Kendall Whittier Elementary! 

 

Kendall-Whittier Elementary Principal, Ronda Kesler with Fergie Bear

Ferguson Subaru’s focus on education in the month of August and September was part of the Subaru Love Promise, a pledge to do right in our communities and the world. 

Click here to learn more about Ferguson Subaru and the Love Promise.



Sources:
[1] Rankings of the States 2015 and Estimates of School Statistics 2016. Publication. NEA Research, May 2016. Web. 09 Sept. 2016. <http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/2016_NEA_Rankings_And_Estimates.pdf>. Page 39
[2] Rankings of the States 2015 and Estimates of School Statistics 2016. Publication. NEA Research, May 2016. Web. 09 Sept. 2016. <http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/2016_NEA_Rankings_And_Estimates.pdf>. Page 19 


 

Ferguson Subaru Donates School Supplies

Ferguson Subaru loves to give back to our community. One of the areas we believe is worth investing in is education. Our team is committed to helping the advancement of learning and learning opportunities in our community. 

Looking at local, Tulsa area schools we learned that, on average, teachers spend up to $500 of their own money each year on supplies for their classrooms. As advocates of learning, that didn’t sit well with us at Ferguson Subaru. We wanted to help provide the necessary supplies teachers need to teach, and students need to learn. So, we decided to hold a school supply drive. 

During the months of August and September, Ferguson Subaru collected school supplies from generous donators in the Broken Arrow and Tulsa area. Our goal was to “Stuff a Subaru,” or stuff a Subaru Forester to be specific. 

By the end of our supply drive, we had quite a bit of school supplies in the back of our Subaru Forester (thank you to all who donated). The next step was to get those supplies into the hands of teachers and students. We reached out to Kendall-Whittier Elementary School, in Tulsa. 

Kendall-Whittier is an elementary school located in north-central Tulsa, just west of the University of Tulsa campus. The school has been providing students in the area a place to grow and learn for generations. Kendall-Whittier Elementary is a lighthouse to our community. According to the school, “As a Title I school, we don’t require that students bring school supplies at the beginning of the year to respect the limited financial situations of many of our families.” 

After our supply drive was over, we drove the Subaru Forester, stuffed with supplies, over to the elementary school! We are honored to have the opportunity to work with the teachers and staff at Kendall-Whittier! Tulsa community mascot, Fergie Bear, was present to help drop off the supplies! A $250 donation was also given to the school through AdoptAClassroom.org.

Ronda Kesler, principal at Kendall-Whittier, had the following to say about the donation,
“I would like to express appreciation on behalf of my staff for the delightful trunk of gifts that were delivered to Kendall-Whittier ES by Fergie Bear and your gracious staff…We are so grateful and blessed to have been the recipient of this year’s Ferguson Subaru school supply drive. Please accept our ‘Thank You’ from my staff and students!” 

Ferguson Subaru’s focus on education in the month of August and September was part of the Subaru Love Promise, a pledge to do right in our communities and the world. 

To learn more about Ferguson Subaru and the Love Promise visit our website.

'STUFF A SUBARU' School Supply Drive

Aside from your parents, can you think of someone who inspired you, pushed you, and prepared you for life's journey? Many of us owe a "thank you" to our teachers. Teachers leave lasting impressions on our lives and on the lives of our children. 

The work of a teacher impacts the community as a whole. As Helen Caldicott once said, “Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth.” Given the right tools, our teachers have the ability to shape not only the future of Tulsa and the surrounding communities but effectively the world. There's just one problem; not every teacher is equipped with the right tools and/or resources. 

On average, teachers spend up to $500 of their own money each year on supplies for their classrooms. This is a fact that doesn't sit well with us at Ferguson Subaru. We love learning, and we love our teachers. We want to see the Tulsa/Broken Arrow area, our community, continue to grow and flourish, and we know the role of the teacher is vital in this. So, we decided to do something about it; something to help our local teachers. 

We decided to 'Stuff A Subaru' with school supplies.

We decided to host a school supply drive, but we need your help! 
With your help, we can make sure Tulsa-area students have what they need to succeed.

 Help us provide the necessary school supplies our Tulsa area teachers need to teach! 

Help us provide the necessary school supplies our students need to learn! 

Help us 'Stuff A Subaru!' 

Needed School Supplies:
Pencils
Crayons
Dry Markers
Clorox Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Dry Marker Erasers
Pencil Sharpeners
Watercolor Paint
Duct Tape (colored & non-colored)
Glue & Glue Sticks
Zip-lock Bags
Kleenex
Pens

The supplies you donate will go directly to local teachers including teachers at Kendall-Whittier Elementary, in Tulsa. Located off the edge of the University of Tulsa, Kendall-Whittier is a lighthouse to our community. Kendall-Whittier has a staff of wonderful teachers who welcome your support. Ferguson Subaru is proud to partner with Kendall-Whittier Elementary and its staff of dedicated teachers! 

LEARN MORE

Help us 'Stuff a Subaru!' Donate your school supplies today! At Ferguson Subaru!