Mendenhall Auto co-owners Steve Allwine, center, and Mark Troupin, left, congratulate Doug Scudder, president of the Board of Directors for Trail Mix Inc., after they presented $8,585 to Trail Mix at Mendenhall Auto on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The donation is part of Subaru’s “Share the Love” promotion. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mendenhall Auto co-owners Steve Allwine, center, and Mark Troupin, left, congratulate Doug Scudder, president of the Board of Directors for Trail Mix Inc., after they presented $8,585 to Trail Mix at Mendenhall Auto on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The donation is part of Subaru’s “Share the Love” promotion. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mendenhall Auto Center makes donation to trail improvement club

Local trails are feeling the love.

Trail Mix, Inc. was given an $8,585 donation from Subaru of America and Mendenhall Auto Center as part of the company’s national “Share the Love” campaign at the Subaru dealership Tuesday afternoon. Mendenhall Auto Center co-owner Mark Troupin said it only made sense that the dealership choose Trail Mix, Inc.

“Trail Mix appeals to almost everybody in Juneau,” Troupin said at the check presentation event Tuesday. “We use the trails, we comment on the trails. When people come to town they always remark on what great shape the trails are in and ask who takes care of them. It is Trail Mix. We thought the No. 1 car in Juneau with the No. 1 activity in Juneau was just a perfect fit.”

Trail Mix, Inc. was started in 1993 as a group of hiking enthusiasts interested in the growth and development of local trails in Juneau. According to the Trail Mix website, it is now one of the largest trail organizations in the state. Trail Mix is a nonprofit organization that works with the City and Borough of Juneau, the State of Alaska and the United States Forest Services on trails. Trail Mix Board President Doug Scudder said the organization is fortunate to be a part of the event.

“It is always great when corporations in the community give back to local organizations,” Scudder said. “For an organization our size, it is a meaningful contribution and it will be impactful.”

Scudder said the contribution will go into the general fund account, but a majority of it will likely go towards one main project.

“It will all go toward trail work,” Scudder said. “We already have world-class trails here. Right now our big focus for a few years has been the Treadwell Ditch Project and I expect a good portion will go toward that effort.”

Work on the Treadwell Ditch Renovation Project on Douglas will include replacing bridges and restoring the trail tread.

This marked the 10th year Subaru has held its national “Share the Love” event. Mendenhall Auto Center co-owner Steve Allwine said this is the fourth year that Subaru has included local charities as part of the program. The “Share the Love” event was held between Nov. 16-Jan. 2, 2018. Subaru donated $250 for each new car purchased or leased to one of four national charities (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Make-A-Wish, Meals on Wheels America and National Park Foundation) or one local organization. Mendenhall Auto Center upped the ante by also donating an extra $150 per car sold or leased. Troupin said nearly 90 percent of the people who purchased or leased a new Subaru chose Trail Mix over the national organizations. The dealership did not have the exact amount it raised in total for the event. Because Mendenhall Auto Center also added to the pot, the check presented Tuesday was the largest it has awarded. Allwine said in the event’s history that about $80,000 has gone back to Juneau. Overall, last year’s “Share the Love” totaled nearly $24 million in charitable donations this year, according to Subaru.

Allwine and Troupin also added during the presentation that they would like to have Trail Mix included in next year’s event. Vice President of Trail Mix Ron Bressette said knowing that in advance really prepares the organization for future.

“It is great,” Bressette said. “As a nonprofit, we are always looking for funding and help with our finances. For an organization to already say that we will have help lets us plan for next year.”


• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.


Phil Saraceno, left, of Subaru of America, Co-owners Mark Troupin, and Steve Allwine, of Mendenhall Auto, present as check to Doug Scudder, president of the Board of Directors for Trail Mix Inc., second from right, and Ron Bressette, vice president of Trail Mix, right, at Mendenhall Auto on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The donation is part of Subaru’s Share the Love promotion. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Phil Saraceno, left, of Subaru of America, Co-owners Mark Troupin, and Steve Allwine, of Mendenhall Auto, present as check to Doug Scudder, president of the Board of Directors for Trail Mix Inc., second from right, and Ron Bressette, vice president of Trail Mix, right, at Mendenhall Auto on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The donation is part of Subaru’s Share the Love promotion. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in News

President Joe Biden speaks during a reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, celebrating Greek Independence Day. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
Biden won’t veto Republican-led bill ending COVID emergency

Republicans celebrated the turn of events Wednesday.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, March 30, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Robert DeMaine, principal cellist of the L.A. Philharmonic, is scheduled to perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto during a pair of concerts this weekend by the Juneau Symphony. (Courtesy Photo/ Daniel Lippitt)
Say cello to the guest artist: Symphony performance features L.A. Philharmonic’s principal cellist

Concert will include Dvořák’s Cello Concerto among other selections.

Moby the Mobile Greenhouse is a traveling greenhouse project of the Sustainable Southeast Partnership. Since 2016, Moby has helped jumpstart communities of growers in communities from Kake and Hoonah, to Pelican–where Moby is currently being utilized. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)
Resilient Peoples & Place: Traditional food fair and farmers summit represent breadth of Southeast Alaska’s food system

Southeast is energized for a new season of cultivating and harvesting a bounty of fresh local food.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
State Trooper convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a minor

KENAI — Vance Peronto, formerly an Alaska State Trooper based in Soldotna,… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Wednesday, March 29, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

An otter sleeps on the ice near an open channel (Courtesy Photo / Jos Bakker)
On the Trails: Spring comes slowly

As I await more and bigger signs of spring, there have been good things to see along the trails.

State Sen. Bert Stedman, center, co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, presides over a committee hearing Thursday. The committee on Monday approved an $8.4 million fast-track supplemental budget to address staff shortages in processing food stamps, public defenders and legal advocates for vulnerable residents. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Bill with funds to address food stamps backlog goes to governor

Legislature gives near-unanimous approval to hiring extra staff to fix months-long backlog

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire
From left to right, Carlee Simon, Frank Hauser and Thom Peck pose for a photo on Tuesday at Thunder Mountain High School after the Juneau School Board hosted a public forum in which Simon, Hauser and Peck were given an opportunity to answer questions as the three finalists being considered for the Juneau School District superintendent position.
Superintendent finalists field questions

Forum held ahead of Wednesday’s special school board meeting.

Most Read