Throughout June and last month, Florida’s Subaru of Pembroke Pines and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Southern Florida Chapter took part in the Subaru Loves to Care initiative for a third consecutive year to provide gift bags to patients who are currently battling cancer this summer.

Subaru Loves to Care, Subaru of America's 2-year-old health-concentrated initiative, has helped LLS and Subaru bring blankets and arts and crafts kits to about 70,000 patients at over 400 hospitals, the automaker announced Tuesday.

In a news release, Craig Zinn, president and chief executive officer of Craig Zinn Automotive Group, which owns Subaru of Pembroke Pines said, “We are happy to once again work with our valued community partner, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Southern Florida Chapter. Through the Subaru ‘Loves to Care’ health-focused initiative we can continue to support patients and their families battling cancer, and together help improve the well-being of our local communities.” 

In addition to Duane Massa, general manager at Subaru of Pembroke Pines, a team of volunteers and staff from LLS’s Southern Florida chapter visited patients at the Memorial Hospital West Cancer Institute in Pembroke Pines to hand-deliver bags of blankets to patients who are currently battling cancer.

“Through Subaru's ‘Loves to Care’ we were able to invite our employees and customers to join our Dealership in giving back, and together express how much we care about our hometown charity partners and the patients they serve,” said Massa.

Additionally, along with a blanket and personalized notes of inspiration that Subaru of Pembroke Pines asked employees and visiting customers to write, the bags also included “Here to Help” cards from LLS, which explain the organization’s mission and how patients and caregivers can find support groups and means of financial aid.

“Our organization is humbled by the support of this extraordinary event,” said DeAnn Hazey, executive director for LLS's Southern Florida chapter. “Patients and caregivers receive uplifting messages and comforting blankets to wrap themselves in the support provided by both Subaru of Pembroke Pines Family and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We are working together to find a cure and provide critical patient care.”