The Cars 4 Causes Blog.

Drumming and creative solutions to tight education budgets come together on April 4 at the Dean Brower Foundation Benefit Concert in Ventura, Calif. Cars for Causes is proud to be sponsoring the event.

We started this charity collaboration with Pulse Drumming, a Ventura, Calif. company, last year, sharing its vision of bringing art and music into Ventura area schools and with its specific purpose of serving at-risk youth and those with special needs.

Concert – Fun with a Purpose

And on April 4, the work comes to fruition, with a benefit concert by Konkoba, a multicultural ensemble that plays drums ranging from the familiar conga and dulcimer to the not-so-familiar Bougaraboo, Dan Mo and Tongue Drums. Also playing is Led-Zepplica.

Proceeds from the Benefit Concert go to the Dean Brower Foundation. There’s a story, both tragic and uplifting behind the concert and the Dean Brower Foundation’s work. See our Sept 18 blog for part of it; and see Pulse Drumming on YouTube for more.

If you happen to be in the Ventura area on April 4, spend a wonderful evening supporting a good cause. (Click here for concert times and details.)

Could you draw a picture of Your Favorite Way of Helping Others?

Kids can, and we’re asking elementary kids (grades one through five) to do just that for our Third Annual Kids Art Contest. You can be sure they’ll come up with some creative pictures. They always do. (Click here to see previous year’s winning pictures.)

Third grade winner of the Cars 4 Causes Kids Art Contest from last year - 2008

This being our third annual contest, we’ve learned that we can count on kids to show us the central value of donating to charities we care about, whether that contribution is time or money or a car donation.

Eligible Young Artists

Eligible for this year’s contest are selected schools in the North Oxnard School District, Oxnard, Calif. (all schools north of 5th Street). There will be five winners, one from every grade level. The prizes are generous: each will receive an art kit; their school will receive $1,000; and that student’s class will be able to designate $1,000 to any non-profit organization of their choice.

In case you’re wondering who’s going to pick the winners, our panel of judges this year comes from the City of Oxnard: Mayor Tom Holden, Fire Chief Joe Milligan, and Police Chief John Crombach.

Check back soon. We’ll announce the young winners and give you a peek at their winning art as well. Learn how to donate car today!