Camden: Our Hometown Commitment
Camden, New Jersey, is where our headquarters sits, but it’s more than that; it’s our hometown. The people, the neighborhoods, and the future of Camden matter deeply to us. That’s why we continue to invest in the city’s growth through employee volunteers who roll up their sleeves and help community organizations, providing grants from the Subaru of America Foundation, and an ongoing commitment to be the kind of neighbor the city deserves.
Message on Our Hometown Commitment
Camden is our hometown, and we are proud to be part of this community. Through volunteerism, grants, and community partnerships, our employees show up here in ways that go well beyond the walls of our headquarters. The Subaru Love Promise lives in the hands of our people — in the work they do alongside Camden residents, organizations, and leaders every single day. By working together, we are building a strong future for our whole community.
Alan Bethke Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Communications Subaru of America, Inc.
Erica McLeod Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Subaru of America, Inc.
$1.6M
donated to Camden-based causes
5.3K
volunteer hours contributed by SOA employees in Camden
65+
organizations supported in Camden
Growing Together
Our roots go deep in Camden — and so does our Share the Love Garden located right in the backyard of our headquarters! Each week, a rotating group of 23 Subaru volunteers tend to the garden, watering, weeding, and pruning to keep the plants healthy and thriving. In total, we were able to provide Cathedral Kitchen with fresh vegetables, including cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and more, to nourish our neighbors.
85+
volunteer hours
480+
pounds of fresh vegetables
Our Love Promise in Action Locally
We’re able to fulfill our Love Promise thanks to the year-round dedication of our employees to local volunteerism. Through meaningful partnerships, we’re able to fuel biodiversity and repurpose and recycle items that would otherwise go to waste.
Biodiversity in Our Backyard
In partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), Subaru installed educational signs throughout headquarters highlighting the native, drought-resistant plants that support the local ecosystem. On Earth Day, PHS hosted garden tours to showcase the sustainable landscape and inspire employees and visitors to use these practices in their own homes.
Closing the Loop on Metal Hangers
When a Subaru employee noticed metal hangers piling up from our Tweeds Dry Cleaning service, they suggested a solution. Tweeds, a Camden-based company, agreed to take back the hangers for reuse, creating a simple recycling program that keeps single-use waste out of local landfills.
Reusable Bags Find New Purpose
During our Earth Day celebration at headquarters, employees donated over 65 gently used reusable bags given to Wholesome Riches, a local nonprofit that delivers meals to families in need. Now those bags have a new mission: supporting Camden families while keeping waste out of landfills.
Camden Events
Our commitment to Camden goes beyond the Love Promise pillars. We show up wherever our neighbors need us most.
Investing in Camden’s Future Through Grant Support
$748K
in grants to local Camden organizations from the Subaru of America Foundation
405
local students impacted
23
jobs created for residents
280K
meals served to the community
$7.5K
in employee matching gifts from the Subaru of America Foundation to Camden organizations
From Camden Classrooms to the World Stage
Six students from Camden College’s scholarship program and five students from KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy got a front-row seat to something extraordinary this year. Subaru’s national technician challenge, held right at Subaru’s headquarters, brought the best car repair and diagnostic talent in the country straight to their doorstep.
Subaru made sure these students were part of it, giving them the opportunity to connect one-on-one with Subaru’s top training experts, sit down with current competitors, and hear firsthand from former champions, getting an up-close look at a career path that starts right where they are.
“Subaru of America has been more than a corporate neighbor to the City of Camden — they have been a true partner in every sense of the word. Year after year, they show up for our residents through volunteerism, community investment, and a genuine commitment to the people who call this city home. Their presence strengthens our neighborhoods and reflects exactly the kind of partnership that moves Camden forward. We are proud to have Subaru in our city, and grateful for everything they continue to do.”
Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen, City of Camden
Bringing Hope to the Big Screen
As Hopeworks celebrated its 25th anniversary, the goal was simple: shine a light on the meaningful change taking place in Camden. To bring this vision to life, Subaru connected IDEA Center For The Arts, a Camden-based organization changing lives through the arts, with Hopeworks to support a video production, fostering a meaningful partnership rooted in storytelling and opportunity.
The result was “Code of Hope: The Hopeworks Story”, a documentary that follows young professionals in Camden and Philadelphia as they build careers in technology through Hopeworks. The film has received remarkable recognition, earning semifinalist honors at the Philadelphia International Filmmakers Awards and the Denver Movie Awards, Official Selection status at the Film Collective Short Film Festival, and Best Documentary Short at the Sacramento Independent Film Festival.
For Subaru, this project represents more than a film. It is a testament to the power of collaboration, the importance of building connections within the Camden community, and the impact of investing in initiatives that elevate stories worth sharing on a national stage.
2025 Grant Recipients
Camden County Community College
Subaru U Scholarship for Automotive Technology
Camden Repertory Theater Community Development Group
PACE: A Career Training and Apprenticeship Program
12 Plus
Strengthening Workforce Training Pipelines
Girls, Inc. Of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey
Eureka! Camden
Camden Education Fund, Inc. in partnership with Camden City School District
2025 Remarkable Grads
Street Law, Inc.
Expanding Community Initiatives in Camden
Upstream Alliance, Inc.
Empowering Camden Through Experiential Learning, Outdoor Recreation, and Environmental Stewardship
Institute for the Development of Education in the Arts
IDEA Workforce Training and Apprenticeship Program
UrbanPromise, Inc.
StreetLeader Program & UrbanCorps
Camden Community Partnership
Camden Reimagining Civic Commons
The Trust for Public Land
Creating Access to the Outdoors and Supporting the City’s Parks and Green Spaces
The Cathedral Soup Kitchen, Inc.
Culinary Arts Job Training Program
Hopeworks ‘N Camden, Inc.
Recode Your Future Training Program
Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum
Camden Carpenter’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program
LUCY Outreach: A NJ Nonprofit Corporation
LUCY Outreach Alumni Services
Joseph’s House of Camden
Service Navigator
Southern New Jersey Chamber Foundation
2025 South Jersey Summer Teachers Institute
Impact Charity Services
Project LIFT (Life Incentive Fulfillment Training)
Discover Education and National Environmental Foundation
Environmental Education Initiative Partner
2025 ERG Grants
The Subaru of America Foundation also supported organizations on behalf
of our Employee Resource Groups
A Leadership Journey
Hispanic Family Center Southern NJ, Inc.
Build Jake’s Place
Trevor Project, Inc.
Fifty Shades of Purple Against Bullying
Special Operations & Warrior Foundation
Semper Fi & America’s Fund
Women of the Dream
I Support the Girls