Walser Subaru Burnsville Hosts Make-A-Wish Reveal

The showroom at Walser Subaru Burnsville looked a little different than usual. Decorations filled the space, employees gathered near the entrance, and one very important guest was about to arrive.

Six-year-old Avery arrived at the dealership expecting a family outing. Instead, she walked into a showroom decorated with tropical colors that had a bounce house, a face painter, customized coloring books, and other activities tailored for her visit. Her favorite food, Panda Express, had been catered. The biggest surprise was saved for the finale: Avery and her family were heading to Hawaii through Make-A-Wish Minnesota.

Employees, volunteers, and relatives filled the showroom as the announcement was made. Avery and her family were beyond elated, a reaction intensified by the difficult times they had been through together. For the afternoon, the space functioned less as a dealership and more as a place for family and community, with staff pausing daily operations and doing their part to make Avery’s dream a reality.

A Community Partnership

The event was supported through Subaru’s Love Promise initiative, under which Subaru retailers direct funding to national and local nonprofit organizations. One of those partners is Make-A-Wish Minnesota, which grants wishes to children facing critical illnesses.

Avery was one of those children facing a critical illness: she had been diagnosed with leukemia while very young. Avery told Make-A-Wish Minnesota that her dream was to go to Hawaii and get to swim with the dolphins. In the throes of illness, Avery’s wish seemed more like a pipedream. As her health improved, her family’s gratitude for her healing pushed Avery’s wish to the back of their minds. Walser Subaru Burnsville’s wish reveal brought back a flood of memories and emotions, and it was the culmination of Avery and her family’s journey: the ups and downs, the tears and hope, and the love that held them together throughout.

In March of 2026, Subaru of America recognized Walser Subaru Burnsville for their partnership with Make-A-Wish Minnesota and Avery’s story, making them one of two winners of their Love Promise story for the month, complete with a recap on Subaru.com as well as a framed award.

Local Impact

The reveal also aligns with the mission of the Walser Foundation, which contributes a portion of company earnings to community and education initiatives. Customer participation in Share the Love helps support organizations like Make-A-Wish, turning routine transactions into funding for local families.

For employees, the day looked different than usual. Rather than focusing on sales or service appointments, team members spent the afternoon welcoming Avery and her family and helping with the celebration.

Walser often talks about going beyond vehicle sales. Moments like this show what that means in practice. Community partnerships, customer participation, and employee involvement come together to support families in a very direct way.

Families like Avery’s are the reason programs like Share the Love exist. Those interested in supporting Make-A-Wish Minnesota and helping grant future wishes can learn more here: https://wish.org/minnesota/ways-help-us.