- Floyd Jones, Senior Director of After Sales, Subaru Canada, Inc. raised a total of $20,405 to benefit Subaru Canada’s charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Toronto.
- Initial goal of $10,000 quickly surpassed, escalating challenge from haircut to head shaving once benchmark of $20,000 achieved.
(MISSISSAUGA) — Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) is pleased to announce that one executive, Floyd Jones, Senior Director of After Sales at SCI, has set a new benchmark in fundraising, raising an incredible $20,405 in just one month to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto (RMHC Toronto), SCI’s charity of choice.
The charitable campaign was initiated by Mr. Jones in May 2014 as part of a friendly competition: to grow his long, luscious locks as part of an internal sales challenge between regions. Mr. Jones proposed that he would cut his hair to benefit Subaru Canada’s charity of choice if $10,000 was raised; he would shave his head if SCI employees, dealers and suppliers donated upwards of $20,000. The initial goal of $10,000 was quickly surpassed in just one week, working towards the $20,000 milestone – the largest fundraising amount raised by one Subaru Canada employee to date.
Subaru Canada selected RMHC Toronto as their charity of choice in 2000 and since then SCI has donated a grand total of $591,753 cumulatively. Furthermore, SCI also participates in the RMHC Toronto Home for Dinner Program, providing families staying at the House with a home-cooked meal after a long day at the hospital. A warm meal is cooked for nearly 140 people by SCI volunteers who donate their time and effort to assign tasks, shop for groceries, arrive and prepare the menu for dinner. SCI has been involved with this specific program at RMHC Toronto since 2008.
“I’m thrilled that I’m able to help RMHC Toronto achieve the goal of making a difference in the lives of families with children going through such a difficult time,” said Jones. “I’m honoured that as many employees, dealers and partners stepped up to the plate to give and hope the challenge helps inspire others to donate in fun and unique ways.”
“We are tremendously grateful to Subaru Canada for their ongoing generosity and support of families who call RMHC Toronto their ‘home away from home’,” said Mary Proulx, Director of Development and Communications, RMHC Toronto. “From events like the annual Ontario Dealer Advertising Association golf tournament and Floyd Jones’ haircut, to adopting a family bedroom and providing a vehicle for families at our House to use, Subaru Canada truly makes a difference in the lives of families with seriously ill children and we value our wonderful partnership.”
“Last year we raised a total of $50,828, and this year we’ve already greatly surpassed that in only seven months,” said Shiro Ohta, chairman, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, Inc. “To date in 2015 we have raised a total of $91,350 already. With the annual Subaru HyperMeet planned for later this month I’m very confident that we will be able to more than double our donation amount to RMHC Toronto from last year and continue to help the families of seriously ill children.”
RMHC Toronto provides a “home away from home” for seriously ill children and their families. While only steps away from their ill child, RMHC is a place for families to heal better together, both in the 81-family capacity House in downtown Toronto and through the Family Room Program that provides families with a medical-free space within a hospital to rest and retreat. Since 1981, the facility has been host to thousands of families in need of a comfortable atmosphere of compassion and understanding during a frightening and stressful time in their lives. Support from SCI will help RMHC Toronto provide families of seriously ill children with a safe and comfortable place to stay that is just steps from the hospital where their child is undergoing life-saving medical treatment.
To view a video highlight of Mr. Jones’ charitable head shaving please click "Play" button.
Subaru Canada Executive Raises over $20K for RMHC Toronto - Photo Gallery
About Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto:
Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto provides a “home away from home” for 81 children and their families to heal better together at our House in downtown Toronto. The organization also operates Family Rooms in three hospitals across the GTA. Last year, 800 families stayed at the House, and more than 1,200 families were supported in our Family Rooms.
ABOUT SUBARU:
Subaru Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of 90 authorized dealers across Canada. For more information, please visit www.subaru.ca or pr.subaru.ca or follow @Subaru_Canada on Twitter.
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