Subaru of Jacksonville presented its largest single gift yet to Wolfson Children’s Hospital on March 29: a $160,000 check from the 15th annual Share the Love campaign. For the second straight year, the local dealership also had the single largest donation to one charity among Subaru dealerships nationwide.
To date, Subaru of Jacksonville has committed to donate $1.3 million to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, with funds supporting care and advanced technology to treat critically ill and injured children at Wolfson Children’s Porter Family Children’s Trauma Center, in addition to child passenger safety education through THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s.
During this year’s campaign, Subaru donated $250 for every new vehicle purchased or leased from Subaru of Jacksonville between Nov. 17 and Jan. 3. Customers could choose from four national charities for the $250 donation — including ASPCA, Make a Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels and the National Park Foundation — or Subaru of Jacksonville’s hometown charity, Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Subaru of Jacksonville matched every $250 donation, plus more, regardless of the charity chosen by the customer, with all matching funds benefitting Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Additionally, Subaru of America and Subaru of Jacksonville donated $2 and $3, respectively, to Wolfson Children’s for every Subaru oil change at the dealership during the campaign. This is seventh year Wolfson Children’s has been Subaru of Jacksonville’s hometown charity.
Subaru of Jacksonville was the first corporate partner to support trauma services at Wolfson Children’s and established the Subaru of Jacksonville Porter Family Trauma Services Endowment, creating a legacy of support for generations to come. To recognize their generosity, Wolfson Children’s named the region’s only American College of Surgeons-Verified Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in the Porter Family’s honor.
“We continue to be incredibly grateful that we’re able to make a contribution of this size, and very thankful of our relationship with Wolfson Children’s Hospital,” said Phil Porter, owner of Subaru of Jacksonville. “We are aware that our donations impact lives and that is an incredible feeling.”
In addition to donating to Wolfson Children’s through Share the Love, Subaru of Jacksonville is also the presenting sponsor of Wolfson Children’s annual summer toy drive, Christmas in July, and supports two of Wolfson Children’s signature fundraisers, the Wolfson Children’s Challenge and Smoking Clays for Kids, which raise critical funding for life-saving equipment and technology.
Subaru of Jacksonville, in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital and THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health, will also continue to host free child passenger car seat safety checks the first Friday of each month to ensure children are safe on the roads.
“Since arriving in Jacksonville, I’ve been astounded by the community’s generosity and support,” said Allegra Jaros, MBA, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “Thanks to people like Phil and Roxanne Porter, along with businesses like Subaru of Jacksonville, we’re able to continue our mission serving ill and injured children, while supporting programs to prevent injury outside the hospital.”
As a not-for-profit organization, Wolfson Children's Hospital relies on charitable donations to provide world-class, specialized pediatric care for all children in the region, regardless of ability to pay. The hospital opened in 1955, with the aid of an initial gift from the Wolfson Family Foundation, as a place for all children to be admitted and treated without regard to creed, religion, race or financial position. That original mission remains today.
Subaru of Jacksonville is a family-owned and -run business that was opened in August 2000 by current owner R. Phil Porter in order to serve the people of Jacksonville and its surrounding communities. The Subaru of Jacksonville team lives in the community, works in the community and supports the community through donations, sponsorships, volunteerism and community events.
Subaru of Jacksonville has been awarded DealerRater’s Florida Subaru Dealer of the Year for the past nine years, the only Subaru retailer to achieve this award for so many consecutive years, and DealerRater’s National Subaru Dealer of the Year in 2020 and 2023.
Subaru of Jacksonville was awarded the 2017 Subaru Love Promise Award, a national Subaru award given to only one of more than 600 dealerships, for their commitment to the community and multiple monthly awards for community service.
Phil Porter believes that with great reward comes great responsibility and that means treating others the best way and meeting needs whenever possible, from a personal level, dealership level, and community level.
