Every vehicle sold and serviced at Walser Mazda contributes to something far beyond the transaction. As a member of the Walser Automotive Group family, the dealership helps fuel the Walser Foundation, the group’s philanthropic arm, which reinvested over $1.4 million into local communities in 2025 alone through grants, scholarships, and volunteer initiatives.
While taking a half-day away from the showroom or service bay for off-site volunteering isn't always feasible, Walser Automotive Group created a way to break down those barriers: Giving to Go. This official Walser Foundation program brings meaningful, 30-minute volunteer projects directly to the dealership.
“Our Giving to Go program removes many of the barriers to volunteering while still allowing employees to see the direct impact of what they're doing," explained Dayna Kleve, director of diversity, engagement & foundation at Walser Automotive Group. "Almost everyone can step away for 30 minutes to assemble care kits for a local nonprofit. Those small moments create shared experiences, strengthen teamwork, and reinforce that giving back can be part of the workday."
Earlier this year, Walser Mazda put this strategy into action by partnering with Walser Automotive Group's Asian Hmong Alliance employee resource group. Together, the team assembled dorm kits for students experiencing homelessness as they transitioned to college through Saint Paul Public Schools’ Project Reach program, supported by a contribution from the store.
The enthusiasm surrounding that project served as the catalyst to reignite Giving to Go across all Walser Automotive Group locations. The program officially relaunched right where it first started: Walser Mazda. Partnering with the Walser Foundation, dealership employees gathered to assemble 12 comprehensive move-in baskets packed with essential household supplies like detergent, dish soap, and paper towels for youth transitioning into stable housing through local nonprofit The Link, an organization supporting youth and families experiencing homelessness, young people who are survivors of sex trafficking, and youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system. Each session begins by connecting employees directly to the cause. Before assembling the kits, a representative from The Link spoke to the Walser Mazda team about the exact impact these household supplies make for young people moving into their first stable homes.
"The team was pleasantly surprised by how much good could be accomplished in such a short amount of time," said Kleve. "From unloading supplies to assembling the kits and loading them back up for delivery, the entire experience took about an hour. What really stood out was the opportunity to connect the activity to the people it would benefit. That context made the experience much more meaningful."
Beyond group volunteering, Walser Mazda team members participate in MyCause, a quarterly giving program hosted by Walser Automotive Group. Employees nominate personally meaningful nonprofits that range from school booster clubs to community charities for a chance to direct a $250 foundation donation in their name. Since launching in 2023, MyCause has provided nearly $20,000 in employee-directed giving.
Whether it’s through micro-volunteering on the showroom floor or empowering employee-driven donations, Walser Mazda demonstrates that small, consistent acts of community service create a powerful culture of empathy and connection — embodying the spirit of Mazda's Be Moved platform by helping individuals thrive so communities can move toward something better.
