Each August, as a new school year begins, I reflect upon our work at Cars for Kids and how we are helping kids across the state build a better future. My own journey at Cars for Kids began when I was 18, washing the cars going up for auction. Despite being the low man in the chain of command, I took my job seriously and believed in the Cars for Kids mission to help all kids finish high school. I knew that education was important and recognized that I had opportunities that others might not.  

I graduated high school, earned an Associate's Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree, and eventually earned my Master’s, never leaving Cars for Kids.  It was not easy going to school and working full-time.  I often thought about the kids who did not have a path or even access to an advanced degree, let alone a high school diploma and knew that I had no excuse to finish.   

Cars for Kids is a Dallas-based nonprofit founded in 1992. You’ve probably heard the slogan on the radio: “Write Off the Car, Not the Kid”®. We take donations of cars and other types of vehicles and auction them off.  These funds are used to help change the lives of youth by providing a quality high school education in an environment where they can flourish and graduate.   

I worked my way through the organization – I think I have held nearly every job at Cars for Kids. I learned the organization inside and out and began taking on leadership roles as I progressed. Today, I am proud and honored to serve as the Cars for Kids Chief Executive Officer. More importantly, I am excited for the future of Cars for Kids and to witness firsthand how we can help more kids access life-changing resources.  

Throughout our history, the primary focus of our funding has been Texas schools that help kids finish high school. Today we are working to expand our support to charities throughout the country. Our first organization under this new model is the San Diego Center for Children. The funding from donated cars goes to helping the Center provide foster care, evidence-based therapeutic, educational, and transition-age services to children and families struggling with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. 

Our new focus will help us grow our outreach and drive additional fundraising to help kids across the country by providing the necessary tools to assist children from all walks of life. 

I am immensely proud of the work we have done and are doing at Cars for Kids and I look forward to the future as we work to help more kids move forward in their lives. Will you join us by donating a car or making a monetary donation? It’s going to take all of us to help today’s youth take the next steps for a better future. And the first step is helping them finish high school. 

Thank you for your support of Cars for Kids. Together we can create a better future for our kids. 

Sincerely, 

Colin Weatherwax 

CEO, Cars for Kids