Premier Subaru's sixth year of support for hometown charity Camp Rising Sun has tallied up a six-year total topping $380,000 through Subaru's annual "Share the Love" event. On Friday, April 15, Premier Subaru president and general manager Bob Alvine proudly presented camp representatives with a check for $45,850 generated by the dealership's most recent "Share the Love" event.

Camp Rising Sun Charitable Foundation board chair Shaun Heffernan and some very special guests were on hand to thank Alvine and his team at Alvine's flagship Branford dealership at 155 North Main St. In addition to Premier Subaru of Branford, Alvine is also president of Premier Kia in Branford and Premier Subaru of Watertown.

Guests gathered with Premier staff for the event included Andrew Narcisco and his daughter, Lucy Narcisco, a now-veteran camper at age 11. It was through the Narcisco family Alvine first learned about Camp Rising Sun six years ago, when Andrew Narcisco was working at the dealership.

"We got involved with Camp Rising Sun through Lucy," said Alvine, later adding, "Until there's a cure, there's camp."

Heffernan said he won't forget that initial phone call from Alvine six years ago.

"Bob reached out that first year, and explained the process where the buyer can choose to donate $250 per vehicle to four national charities or the local charity; and we were lucky enough that Bob selected us as Premier's local charity," said Heffernan.

At the April 15 presentation, the Narcisco family was joined by camp representatives including the family of campers Roger Floyd, 16 and Annie Floyd, 11.  Heffernan noted it costs an average of $1500 per camper to attend Camp Rising Sun each summer, where an all-volunteer staff of counselors and professionals provide kids with a free and carefree summer camp experience.

"Camp is 100 percent free to all our campers. That requires us to raise a lot of money. What Bob and Premier Subaru has done for us is huge," said Heffernan. "The amount of kids that come to camp because of the generosity of Premier Subaru is unbelievable. And what it also does for us is create awareness for the community about Camp Rising Sun."

At the Premier Subaru website (www.premiersubaru.com) a link to a video about Camp Rising Sun is front and center. The dealership, its sales team, social media and advertising efforts also help customers recognize they can help Premier Subaru help Camp Rising Sun through "Share the Love."

"As a small non-profit, you can imagine that it's tough," to get the word out, said Heffernan. "It's all-volunteer, so I don't have a marketing staff...it's all grass-roots efforts. Bob's support, and his entire team here [working] to let people know who we are, that's amazing."

Support of an exemplary business such as Premier Subaru helps build "credibility" for Camp Rising Sun, as well, Heffernan said.

"If Bob and his team support Camp Rising Sun, then [customers] feel this is the best organization to put their money behind."

While Alvine was happy to be there to give on April 15; it was his turn, once again, to receive recognition for his remarkable work in his profession and as a caring community member. Subaru of New England COO Jeffrey Ruble came to the Branford dealership to congratulate Alvine during the event.

Ruble presented Alvine with Subaru of New England's Top 10 Retailer Award for sales volume for the past year. Subaru of New England Community Love Promise Coordinator Rebecca Carr presented Alvine with the program's highest-level award for a retailer, the Love Promise Community Commitment Gold award; for the dealership's "Share the Love" efforts. Alvine is a multiple recipient of the award.

"This is what our brand is about," said Ruble. "We want to be more than a car company; he wants to be more than a retailer for his community. It's what we feel like we do best."

Learn more about Camp Rising Sun at http://www.camprisingsun.com