Ask Jack

Open Arms of Minnesota

  
 

The Walser Foundation is a proud supporter of Open Arms of Minnesota!Their work began in 1986 as a basic response to the AIDS crisis in the Twin Cities community. Since then, they have expanded their mission to serve nutritious meals to those living with other life-threatening illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, breast cancer and ALS.

Their kitchen is the heart of who they are and it operates 7 days a week. A registered dietitian ensures the nutritional value of their menus. Their talented kitchen staff and volunteers prepare and package their culinary creations. Open Arms' clients receive a week's worth of delicious meals delivered directly to their homes by the volunteers. A typical delivery includes both frozen and fresh food items for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In 2009, Open Arms prepared and delivered 313,237 meals to the Twin Cities community.

In December of 2009, Open Arms completed an $8.1 million capital campaign to build a new facility in South Minneapolis. With a much larger kitchen, they will be able to double the number of clients with breast cancer that they can serve.

On May 20, 2010 Open Arms holds their signature event, Moveable Feast, a joyful evening dedicated to nourishing body, mind and soul. At that event, a brand new Toyota Prius will be given away courtesy of a generous grant by the Walser Foundation.

To learn more about this great cause, please visit www.openarmsmn.org

St Paul Saints Crispin Iceball Game 2010

We love our partners, the St Paul Saints, because of events like this! Even though it was a balmy 14 degrees, the Second Annual Crispin Ice Ball Adventure Series went on as planned. This unique baseball game played in the cold brings together many different components. First, it's a one-of-a-kind sporting event played on the field of Midway Stadium under the normal rules of baseball. Secondly, it brings a charitable cause to the forefront with the Saints, Crispin Hard Apple Cider, Walser Automotive Group, Cities 97 and Vita.mn partnering to provide food and money for Second Harvest, the Upper Midwest's largest hunger-relief organization. Finally, this event is a part of one of the most famous activities in the Twin Cities area, the Winter Carnival.

Nearly 1500 fans came out to celebrate this unique event as the Spectaculars, a local hip-hop band, got it all started. The Walser RV served as the Official Crispin Warming House and the Walser Grillin Crew kept the masses fed with free hot dogs.

Car Washes and Freezing Temperatures

Your car is filthy right? That salt needs to come off. We recommend waiting until the mercury hits at least 20 degrees before you drive into the car wash. Here's why:

• Your vehicle's doors can freeze shut leaving you stuck inside or outside your car until they thaw.
• Your locks can also freeze which makes locking and unlocking your vehicle difficult.
• Your vehicle's brakes can freeze and you could slide right into a very busy intersection injuring yourself or others.
• If you have an antenna on your vehicle, ice will form very easily and it may snap off.
• Ice can form on the car wash's automatic doors and they can freeze shut while the vehicle is still inside.
• Pathways to and from the car wash can become very icy. Your vehicle could slide right into the car wash building or door (We've seen that happen many times). Staff and customers are also at risk just by walking past those icy areas.
• Ice can cause the car wash itself to break down which means expensive repair bills and the price you pay for a car wash will increase.

Although it may seem like an inconvenience not to be able to wash your vehicle on a day like today, the risks involved are too high when it's still 20 degrees or colder. It's a lot less expensive to refill your washer fluid compared to total vehicle body repair.

Committed to 100% Wind Power

Walser Automotive Group is the only dealer group in Minnesota to commit to 100% wind power. We purchase wind energy credits from NextEra(TM) Energy Resources. All funds from the sale of NextEra Energy wind credits are invested into the EarthEra(TM) Energy Trust. All Trust revenue is used solely to build new renewable energy facilities.

Walser is proud to join leading companies such as Sony Electronics Inc., Office Depot, Citigroup, REI, HSBC North America and Norwegian Cruise Lines as members of the EarthEra Energy Trust. Walser Automotive Group is the only automotive group in America to be a member of the EarthEra Energy Trust.

Because of Walser's Green Power Purchases, we have been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Green Power Partner.

Walser Subaru Is Now LEED Certified

Walser Subaru has been awarded LEED Certification for the construction of our new Subaru dealership in Burnsville. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and build using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Did You Know:

- Walser Subaru uses wind power for all it's energy needs.

- Walser Subaru burns used motor oil to heat the shop area.

- Subaru vehicles are the most fuel efficient all-wheel drive vehicles sold in America.

- The Subaru factory in Indiana produces ZERO landfill waste.

2009 Drive for Kids Wrap-Up

The Walser Foundation led the way for this great cause! On Sunday, October 11th, the Walser RV lead a group of classic cars from Mounds Park in St Paul to Red Wing.

This event raised money for Bolder Options which is a Minneapolis-based, one-on-one mentoring program that pairs "at risk" youth ages 10-15 with adult mentors to either bike or run together and work on personal and academic goals in a one year program.

If you'd like to learn more about Bolder Options please visit www.bolderoptions.org

2009 Drive for Kids

The Walser Foundation is preparing for Sunday's Drive for Kids. Join us for this scenic drive from Indian Mounds Park in St Paul to downtown Red Wing.

This is a charity event for all of us who love cars, love driving and love contributing to a great cause! Help us raise money for three worthy causes who provide programs that serve at-risk youth: Bolder Options - a Minneapolis based youth mentoring program; Portage for Youth - an after school/summer program for girls in St Paul; and Youth Outreach Program - prevention, intervention and education for kids in Red Wing.

The timing and the route of the event take advantage of the tremendous interest in the scenic drive around Lake Pepin during the peak fall colors. Drive for Kids is a family event open to everyone although it attracts a significant number of street rods and classic, collectible, foreign and performance cars.

To register for this event or get more information please visit www.driveforkidsmn.com

2010 Honda Insight Giveaway

The Walser Foundation was a proud sponsor of the 2009 Bridging Inc. "Basics Matter" Gala. Bridging provides families in transition with free furniture and household goods to turn empty houses into a comfortable places to perform the basic necessities of life, a table to eat at, a bed to sleep on and a dresser to put their clothes in.

The Foundation donated a 2010 Honda Insight LX. This vehicle raise $37,500 for Bridging! The winners were Dennis and Janet Roding of Bloomington, MN.

Walser Subaru Opens with a Green Twist

A WCCO TV news report on the Grand Opening Week of Walser Subaru in Burnsville.

Read the full story and view the video here>

WOW Man On The Loose

WOW Man (Jack Lucking) visited all 9 Walser dealerships this Saturday on his never ending mission to fight high prices. As might be expected his efforts on behalf of ordinary car buyers were received with gratitude. A very special reunion between WOW Man and Santa was caught on film.

Link to Photo Album>