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As the holiday season is upon us, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to each member of the Cars for Kids family. Your dedication, passion, and hard work have been the driving force behind every success we've achieved.
To Our Incredible Team:
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of children. Your efforts have brought joy, education, and hope to countless young hearts.
To Our Donors and Supporters:
Your generosity has been the gift that keeps on giving. Because of you, we've been able to create smiles, provide opportunities, and build a brighter future for kids in need.
To Our Partners and Collaborators:
Acertus Delivers, Ai Media Group, MPACT Financial Group, LLC and POMOROI. Together, we've formed alliances that transcend charity; we've built bridges of hope and opportunity. Thank you for sharing in our vision and working side by side with us.
As We Reflect on the Year:
Let's celebrate the victories, the challenges conquered, and the lives touched. Each one of you has played a vital role in our journey, and we're immensely grateful for your contributions.
May this Holiday Season Bring You:
Unwrapping Joy: Christmas Gifts for Every Child! Project Love Love and Cars for Kids teamed up to provide Christmas gifts for children who deserve a little extra love this holiday season. From toys to essentials, each gift is wrapped with care and delivered straight from the heart.
Cars for Kids: Driving Change Beyond the Road
Cars for Kids isn't just about vehicles; it's about driving positive change in our communities. This holiday season, witness the power of generosity and the joy it brings to the faces of our little ones.
'Tis the Season to Give Back!
Let's come together to make this holiday season magical for every child. Watch our video, share the love, and consider how you can be a part of this incredible initiative. Together, we can make a difference!
(Source amNY by Ben Branchfeld) Kars4Kids, the tri-state area charity known for its ubiquitous “1-877-KARS-4-KIDS” jingle, heads to court this week amid a fierce trademark infringement battle with a similarly-named Texas charity.
For more than two decades, New Jersey-based Kars4Kids has become known around the country for its near-constant advertising on radio and television featuring a jingle that has been widely described as an earworm. The jingle features young children imploring listeners to “donate your car today,” with proceeds from the car’s sale being used to fund enrichment programming for local youth.
But the organization has been locked in a years-long legal battle with a Texas charity with a similar name, America Can! Cars for Kids, which also solicits used car donations and uses the proceeds to help young people. Cars for Kids was founded in 1992, with Kars4Kids coming on the scene in 1994.
After years of legal threats, Kars4Kids sued Cars for Kids in 2014, alleging trademark infringement, and Cars for Kids countersued the following year. In 2019, a federal judge in New Jersey ruled in favor of Cars for Kids, and ordered its alleged imitator to fork over $10 million in damages. Kars4Kids has appealed the ruling, and the two parties will appear in federal court in New Jersey this week for a hearing.
“Hopefully after that, everything will be done and we’ll be able to move on,” said Colin Weatherwax, CEO of Dallas-based Cars for Kids, in an interview with amNewYork Metro. “We obviously want to recoup some of our costs, but at the end of the day we just want what is rightfully ours, which is our name.”
Donating your car to charity can be a great way to give back to the community, reduce your tax bill, and get rid of a vehicle you no longer need. But before you donate your car, you should do some research to ensure it will be put to good use and provide the maximum benefit to the charity.
This blog post will discuss a few important tasks you should do before donating your car to charity to ensure a positive impact on the cause you choose to support.
Conducting thorough research on your chosen charity helps you ensure that it's a legitimate, registered non-profit organization with a proven track record that will use your donation wisely. This step safeguards your goodwill gesture against any potential misuse.
Some charities apply a significant portion of donations to administrative costs, leaving less for the cause they claim to support. This information can be found on the charity's website, where they are required to disclose their financial information.
You can also check independent charity watchdog organizations that provide ratings and reviews of various charities to get a better understanding of their operations and impact.
You also want to make sure your chosen charity aligns with your values and supports causes that are important to you. For example, if you're passionate about helping needy children, you may want to donate your car to an organization that specifically focuses on providing education, healthcare, or other support services to underprivileged children.
An internet search should yield a wealth of information about the charity's operations, including its tax-exempt status, mission statement, and impact report. This kind of transparent information helps confirm the charity's legitimacy and assures that your car donation will indeed play a part in making a child's dream come true.
Understanding how the charity plans to use your donated car is vital before committing to donate. It adds a layer of transparency and helps you make a more informed decision.
You might find that some charities will sell the car and use the proceeds to fund their projects, while others might use the vehicle in their daily operations.
For instance, if you donate to the charity in the earlier example, they might use the car to transport children to and from school or medical appointments. Others might decide to fix the car and gift it to a needy family or use it as part of their outreach programs.
You can also inquire about the charity's policies for accepting vehicle donations to see if they will accept non-running cars or those in need of significant repairs. Some organizations may have specific requirements for the condition and type of vehicle they accept, so it's best to clarify this beforehand.
In addition, knowing how your car will be used can also affect the tax deductions you can claim. If the charity uses the car for its operations or gives it to a family in need, you can claim a deduction for its fair market value.
However, if the charity sells the car, your deduction is limited to the gross proceeds from the sale. This information can significantly impact your tax planning if you want to maximize your charitable contributions.
Cars for Kids offers an easy and hassle-free donation process that allows you to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children in need. Our organization is committed to transparency and ethical operations, ensuring that your car donation will have a positive and lasting effect on the community we serve. Give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can help make a difference today.
In an exciting development, two community powerhouses, Cars for Kids and YMCA, are joining hands for a festive collaboration this Holiday Season. The vibrant partnership took center stage on The Consumer Team Show on KRLD, where Pete Thomson engaged in a dynamic conversation with Giselle Patterson, the Executive Director of YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, and Colin Weatherwax, the CEO of Cars for Kids.
The discussion illuminated the shared commitment of both organizations to bring joy and support to communities during the holiday festivities. Giselle Patterson shared insights into the YMCA's longstanding dedication to community well-being, emphasizing the impact of collective efforts during the Holiday Season. Colin Weatherwax, representing Cars for Kids, expressed the organization's enthusiasm for collaborating with the YMCA, highlighting the unique ways in which their partnership aims to make a positive difference.
Listeners of The Consumer Team Show were treated to an insider's view of how these organizations plan to leverage their strengths and resources to create a meaningful impact. As the conversation unfolded, it became evident that this collaboration is not just about events; it's about building a community where everyone feels supported and celebrated during the holiday season.
With the holiday spirit in full swing, the partnership between Cars for Kids and YMCA is set to exemplify the true meaning of giving back.
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📅 Date: November 23, 2023
⏰ Time: 8:00am CST
📍 Location: Dallas City Hall - 1500 Marilla St, Dallas, TX 75201
🚗 Cars for Kids is proud to be a sponsor of the YMCA Dallas Turkey Trot, a festive event that combines fitness, fun, and community spirit! 🦃🏅
This Thanksgiving, lace up your running shoes and trot for a cause. Enjoy the scenic route, festive atmosphere, and the joy of giving back. As a special thank you, we're offering an exclusive $15 registration promo code: CARS15.
🌟 Event Highlights:
🎉 How to Register:
Let's make this Turkey Trot a memorable and impactful experience. Whether you're a seasoned runner or just want to enjoy a leisurely stroll, there's a place for everyone at the YMCA Dallas Turkey Trot. See you there!
If you're considering donating a vehicle to make a positive impact on children's lives, you might have come across Cars for Kids. Let us share some compelling reasons why Cars for Kids stands out as an excellent choice:
Transparency and Accountability: Cars for Kids is dedicated to utmost transparency and ethical practices. We prioritize open reporting, ensuring your donation directly benefits children in need. Our commitment to accountability ensures your trust is well-placed.
Local Impact: Cars for Kids serves children in local communities in America, which means your donation supports kids right in your region. On the other hand, other organizations are sending a significant portion of their funds to a religious organization across the globe.
Educational Support: Our mission is centered around empowering children through education, mentorship, and support. We believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and your vehicle donation contributes to this vital cause. Afterall, as advocates for education, it’s paramount for us to spell things the right way. It’s the least we can do. Therefore, we spell it right and do things right!
Variety of Programs: Cars for Kids collaborates with partners like the YMCA, San Diego Center for Children and Texans Can Academies to provide a wide range of educational, health and mentorship programs. We focus on long-term, holistic support.
Diverse Partnerships: Our partnerships extend beyond educational programs to include initiatives like safety around water, mental health services, and other community-focused efforts. This ensures a multifaceted approach to helping kids in need from all walks of life without discrimination of gender, race or religious backgrounds.
So, if you're looking to donate a vehicle, consider choosing the Original Cars for Kids. Your support is invaluable in driving positive change and creating brighter futures for children.
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Cars for Kids is an emerging nonprofit organization that seeks to help low-income and houseless keiki gain access to reliable transportation.
Cars for Kids began in Texas and is expanding across the United States. They have come to Hawaii and are looking to connect with the community to provide both sides of this program with services that they need.
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“So yes, what we’re what we’re looking to do, and it’s an awesome thing that we’re having this conversation, because what we want to do is we want to spread awareness through the state of Hawaii, right,” said Colin Weatherwax, CEO for Cars for Kids. “Over the past 40 years since our existence, we haven’t had a huge presence in Hawaii.”
Weatherwax wants to change that since there is a big need in Hawaii to dispose of old cars.
“What we want to do is to kind of establish that presence, to make sure people know that we’re here,” explained Weatherwax. “And in turn, once we start to get a lot of donations from the state of Hawaii, we can then in turn partner with charities throughout the state of Hawaii. This way, we can give back to the communities that we received the donations from.”
But helping you dispose of the vehicles is only one aspect of the charity. Cars for Kids aims to help our youth in need to gain access to vehicles so they can begin integrating into the workforce.
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“So, what we focus on are the kids that truly need help, for whatever reason, either they’re not working out in the traditional high school setting, or they need, you know, basic life skills to survive or, maybe, are dealing with some mental health issues,” said Weatherwax. “What we like to do is we like to partner with organizations that truly go to help these kids that everyone else, for whatever reason, has either given up on or no one has given them hope. We want to in turn, provide that hope through vehicle donations.”
For those donating cars, the agency will do everything for you.
“We make it super easy. Just give us some basic information about yourself; and then, one of our call center representatives will reach out to get some general information about the vehicle and where it’s located,” explained Weatherwax. “Or if you want to fill out the complete form online, we also offer that; but, you know, as we help the kids that we serve, we also try and help the donors.”
This means even if you don’t have a title. They work with the person donating to pick up the vehicle and get a title if one is not readily available.
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“So, you’re giving us something; we don’t want it to be a hassle for you, too,” said Weatherwax. “People will think, ‘Oh, I gotta find the title. Oh, I don’t know if be able be here at midnight whenever they come to pick up the car, though’. That’s not how we work. If you can’t find the title, we can help you get a title. And we will work with your schedule to pick up that vehicle at a time that works best for you.”
Cars for Kids will take everything. Does the vehicle not work? No problem. They will take it. In addition to cars, they will also take:
Cars for Kids does not use a “middle man”. They do everything in house so that as much of the money as possible can go to support local youth non-profits.
Weatherwax said that he has been involved with Cars for Kids since he was 18 years old.
“So, whenever I was 18, right out of high school, I started working at Cars for Kids,” revealed Weatherwax. “I was actually cleaning out the vehicles that we received, taking the pictures, uploading them to the website. And from there, the one thing that I prided myself on was always asking questions.”
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Weatherwax went to explain that Cars for Kids is a rather large organization. He started off washing the cars that were donated. Then, he moved to working with their call center to set up donations. From there, he moved into the area where the paperwork is processed for the donations.
He also became a licensed auctioneer for Cars for Kids, selling the vehicles as they came into the facility. He kept moving up into the organization.
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“I asked a lot of questions,” said Weatherwax. “And by doing so, I learned how the operation ran and how the organization ran. So, fast forward 13 years; here I am CEO. And I know exactly what it takes in order to get a donated vehicle. I’m able to see what that donated vehicle is used for, and that’s to help change kids’ lives.”
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