YMCA’s Soper says latest donation reflection of Dahl family commitment to the organization

It was nothing out of the ordinary. Just another sign of a big commitment to the La Crosse YMCA from the Dahl family this week.

Through its Share the Love campaign, Dahl Subaru presented the YMCA with a $21,226 check on Wednesday.

A big donation that adds to the current campaign to fund scholarships at the Y.

“One in 4 of our members participates that way today but it takes funding from the communities and from partners like Dahl Auto to make that happen,” YMCA executive director Bill Soper said.

It’s just the latest donation from the Dahl family to the YMCA and a boost to the organization’s annual campaign. Soper says they’re aiming to raise $1 million for scholarships this year.

“One of our things, our commitment is we’re affordable and accessible to everybody in the community,” Soper said, adding the Y has 23,000 members. “So we don’t turn anybody away due to inability to pay.”

The money from Subaru and the Dahl family comes through matching contributions based on car sales and leases over the past holiday season. Customers could pick from four national non-profits or the local Y for the donations.

“We love the check,” Soper said, “but it’s so much more than that. It’s a really deep, long-standing partnership we have with Dahl Auto.”

Tyler Dahl agrees. “It’s just been a huge part of the Dahl family for many, many years,” he said of the YMCA. 

Dahl says the organization’s a natural fit for his family. “Family’s number one in our book and always will be,” Dahl said. “The YMCA just allows us to have that connection with our kids, help us keep them healthy and engaged and active not only through sports and activities but also through other community activities that the YMCA supports.”

Dahl Subaru raised more than $66,000 in the last four years for various local non-profits just through the Share the Love  campaign. The amount given to the Y this year was the largest such donation through that campaign so far.