Local trails are feeling the love.
Trail Mix, Inc. was given an $8,585 donation from Subaru of America and Mendenhall Auto Center as part of the company’s national “Share the Love” campaign at the Subaru dealership Tuesday afternoon. Mendenhall Auto Center co-owner Mark Troupin said it only made sense that the dealership choose Trail Mix, Inc.
“Trail Mix appeals to almost everybody in Juneau,” Troupin said at the check presentation event Tuesday. “We use the trails, we comment on the trails. When people come to town they always remark on what great shape the trails are in and ask who takes care of them. It is Trail Mix. We thought the No. 1 car in Juneau with the No. 1 activity in Juneau was just a perfect fit.”
Trail Mix, Inc. was started in 1993 as a group of hiking enthusiasts interested in the growth and development of local trails in Juneau. According to the Trail Mix website, it is now one of the largest trail organizations in the state. Trail Mix is a nonprofit organization that works with the City and Borough of Juneau, the State of Alaska and the United States Forest Services on trails. Trail Mix Board President Doug Scudder said the organization is fortunate to be a part of the event.
“It is always great when corporations in the community give back to local organizations,” Scudder said. “For an organization our size, it is a meaningful contribution and it will be impactful.”
Scudder said the contribution will go into the general fund account, but a majority of it will likely go towards one main project.
“It will all go toward trail work,” Scudder said. “We already have world-class trails here. Right now our big focus for a few years has been the Treadwell Ditch Project and I expect a good portion will go toward that effort.”
Work on the Treadwell Ditch Renovation Project on Douglas will include replacing bridges and restoring the trail tread.
This marked the 10th year Subaru has held its national “Share the Love” event. Mendenhall Auto Center co-owner Steve Allwine said this is the fourth year that Subaru has included local charities as part of the program. The “Share the Love” event was held between Nov. 16-Jan. 2, 2018. Subaru donated $250 for each new car purchased or leased to one of four national charities (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and National Park Foundation) or one local organization. Mendenhall Auto Center upped the ante by also donating an extra $150 per car sold or leased. Troupin said nearly 90 percent of the people who purchased or leased a new Subaru chose Trail Mix over the national organizations. The dealership did not have the exact amount it raised in total for the event. Because Mendenhall Auto Center also added to the pot, the check presented Tuesday was the largest it has awarded. Allwine said in the event’s history that about $80,000 has gone back to Juneau. Overall, last year’s “Share the Love” totaled nearly $24 million in charitable donations this year, according to Subaru.
Allwine and Troupin also added during the presentation that they would like to have Trail Mix included in next year’s event. Vice President of Trail Mix Ron Bressette said knowing that in advance really prepares the organization for future.
“It is great,” Bressette said. “As a nonprofit, we are always looking for funding and help with our finances. For an organization to already say that we will have help lets us plan for next year.”
• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.
Phil Saraceno, left, of Subaru of America, Co-owners Mark Troupin, and Steve Allwine, of Mendenhall Auto, present as check to Doug Scudder, president of the Board of Directors for Trail Mix Inc., second from right, and Ron Bressette, vice president of Trail Mix, right, at Mendenhall Auto on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The donation is part of Subaru’s Share the Love promotion. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
