After fourteen years of living on the Cars 4 Causes website, the Boats 4 Causes boat donation program is finally moving out and getting a place of its own!!

Since 1997, when we launched Cars 4 Causes, we accepted our 1^st boat donation and have been quietly accepting boat donations all this time from around the United States.   Currently, we have so many boat donations each month and such a tremendous following of buyers interested in purchasing our donated boats that it only makes sense to give Boats 4 Causes  its own website, www.boats4causes.org.

Our new website addresses the specific needs of those wishing to donate their boat, offering each donor complete transparency into our process, resulting in the highest price for the sale of their boat donation.   The donation process is simple and can be accomplished by filling out an online donation form from the new site or calling one of our donation specialists at 855-800-2628(BOAT).

The process of donating a boat is a little more emotionally complicated than that of a car donation.  Boat donors tend to be a little more attached to their boats and they want to make sure that their “baby” is passed on to the right organization.   Often times, it takes a boat donor 30 to 60 days to make the decision to donate once they have first made contact with Boats 4 Causes.

With each boat donation, our team creates a unique relationship with the donor, understanding the ins and outs of their boat donation and enjoying the memories and good times that each donor has had on his boat.

Many times donors are parting ways with their vessel because of a death or illness of a spouse.  The process of getting rid of their vessel is usually very emotional and hard for the donor.  Usually there is nothing wrong with the vessel, they just are unable to use it any longer or there is a lot of emotion tied to it.

Many donors also come to us after they have tried selling their vessel themselves, only to find it difficult, frustrating and sometimes failing to receive any bids at all on their prized possession.  Boats 4 Causes can sell that same boat in 7 days and many times a bidding war ensues.  

We are a national brand and we have buyers from across the United States checking our website daily for new listings.  This is the result of fourteen years of hard work in cultivating the selling side of each boat donation. 

When a potential buyer sees a Boats 4 Causes listing, they trust that we have done our best to be as thorough and accurate as we can when evaluating the boat and its contents and know they will receive a fair and honest deal from Boats 4 Causes. 

Boat donations are tax deductible, so the higher price we obtain from the sale of a boat donation, the greater tax deduction value for the donor.   Our donors realize this and appreciate all of our hard work and brand equity that Boats 4 Causes brings to the table.

We hope you will come to us when the time is right to sell your “baby”.

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1. DONATE YOUR VEHICLE TO CARS 4 CAUSES® AND EARN CASH REBATES FROM MAJOR RETAILERS!

Ever wonder if your vehicle donation really makes a difference?   Well, take a look at this letter we recently received from Ericka Bigger of Project Understanding, and you might just be convinced that it does.  The name of the family, and family members, have been changed in the interest of privacy.

Hello Pat,

My name is Ericka Bigger from Project Understanding and your organization helped us about 8 months ago with a car for one of our homeless families who entered our Transition House Program.   I wanted to give you a follow up on how [Jennifer] has been doing since being blessed with the vehicle your organization donated to her and her children.

Before the vehicle [Jennifer] was struggling to complete any goals such as gaining employment or finishing her high school diploma since she also has 3 small children with her. Since getting the vehicle [Jennifer] has been attending school regularly at the Ventura Adult Ed and will be graduating in June!! Her teachers and I are very excited as is [Jennifer].  [Jennifer] believed that she would never be getting her high school diploma since she had so many barriers to accomplish. Yet with your great donation it allowed her to get to school everyday to make this goal come true! Also [Jennifer] is working part-time and attending school full-time. As soon as she completes her high school diploma she will be working full-time and will be deciding what her next goal is. Since also being in our program [Jennifer] has saved over $2,000 and continues to save. [Jennifer] has one year left with us and we know she will continue to make us proud.

I did want to share her success with you since your organization’s donation gave her motivation and the tool to continue in her goals.

Thank you for everything

Ericka Bigger

Transition House Program Manager

We receive letters like this every day from many wonderful organizations that are doing great things to help those in need.   If you have been considering donating a vehicle but weren’t sure if or how it would help, rest assured there are people and organizations that Cars 4 Causes works with that depend on these generous donations to improve the lives of many families and individuals in need.  So don’t hesitate, please donate today!

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Effective NOW, when you donate your car, boat, motorcycle or RV to Cars 4 Causes^®, you’ll be entitled to receive a FREE Cash Rebate Voucher that grants you access to the Cash Rebate Mall for one full year where you can earn up to $3,000 in cash rebates from over 800 of your favorite online retailers like Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s, the Gap and Walmart.  So what does this mean for you?  By purchasing products from your usual favorite stores, like a new DVD player from Best Buy or some linens from Target, you automatically get money back in the form of a prepaid Visa card!!

The Cash Rebate Mall is an easy-to-use shopping program that offers YOU as our donor the highest rebates available from hundreds of major merchants.   Cash Rebate Mall also provides special offers, coupons and other added discounts to help you save the most money.

We wanted to give our donors something they can actually use in their daily lives, especially at a time when most people are working hard to get back on, or stay on, their feet financially.  Many companies offer “Free” gimmicks that often come with unforeseen costs like hidden fees and obligations down the line.  But that is definitely not how we work here at Cars 4 Causes.  Instead, we wanted a way to reward our generous donors with something that provides significant and tangible benefit and most of all is absolutely FREE!

The whole program is very simple too!  Donate your vehicle, we’ll send you a notice to claim your Free Voucher online, redeem your claim within thirty (30) days and then go to Cash Rebate Mall.com to start shopping!  How easy is that?

What’s even better! The program has no effect on the value of your vehicle tax deduction.  So not only can you earn up to $3,000 in cash rebates, you receive a valuable IRS Tax deduction from your vehicle donation – all of this in addition to doing a wonderful deed by helping those in need.  Everyone benefits!

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1. TAX BENEFITS OF DONATING YOUR VEHICLE TO CHARITY – AN ACCOUNTANT’S PERSPECTIVE

All in all the night was a great success, and we’re thrilled to report that Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties raised over $70,000 from the auction!

Here are some of the items that Cars 4 Causes donated for the auction:

• Joe Namath autographed lithograph 25^th anniversary super bowl III
• Ken Norton autographed boxing glove
• Harmon Killebrew autographed Twins Baseball Jersey
• 20 Skating Plus skate rental tickets
• 3 couple massages at Stress Busters Massage
• 10 Channel Islands Sports Fishing certificates for 2 people
• 15 Channel Islands Ice Skate Canter certificates
• 2 secret garden Inn and Cottages 2 night Bed & Breakfast stays
• 2 cases of Mick Fleetwood 2002 cuvée Premium Red Wine

If you would like to support Cars 4 Causes, you can do so by donating your car, boat, motorcycle or RV today.  Just fill out our online donation form or call us today at 1-888-488-9949.  ” It feels good helping others.” and your donation will make a difference!

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Pat Jessup

January 27, 2011

Angelina and Brad aren’t the only ones adopting kids these days.  Cars 4 Causes recently teamed up with Gypsy Kids and adopted 7 children from the Ukraine; Luli, Kati, Gabor, Misko, Norbi, Roman and Amanda. 

Ranging in age from 2 years to 8 years old, our Gypsy Kids are orphans who were left in the Mukachevo region of the Ukraine.  These children are abandoned and run loose in this region without parental care or supervision.  Team Gypsy Kids is a Christian based ministry who has set up a camp for these orphaned children.  They provide the kids with 2 meals a day, clothing and other basic needs.  Team Gypsy Kids ministry has also installed a flushing toilet and provided 2 working gas stoves to prepare meals. During the winter in Mukachevo, Ukraine the temperatures drop to -35 degrees, so they also provide jackets and clothing for these children.  

Cars 4 Causes has committed monthly financial support for these children and will be able to support their progress as Team Gypsy Kids helps to improve their lives. In addition to financial support, employees of Cars 4 Causes are donating jackets and clothing that can be delivered to our little ones in the Ukraine.

Currently, Team Gypsy Kids has about 160 gypsy orphans with about 65 sponsored. They need all the support they can get to provide meals and clothing to keep these children safe and warm!  If you to want to adopt a Gypsy Kid, it only takes about $1.00 per day to change their life.  Just visit the Team Gypsy Kids web-site at www.teamgypsykids.org to find out more.

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By M.Smith

(Los Angeles, CA) December 25, 2010 – Cars 4 Causes®, the charity that gives to charities, today donated a 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton car to Project: Hollywood Cares. The vehicle was then presented to the Morales family in a surprise Christmas day visit to their home in Hawthorne, California, home where Edgar and Wilma Morales, their nine-month old son, and a large gathering of close relatives had all assembled to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

Sergeant Morales & family enjoy thier Christmas Day surprise from Cars 4 Causes and Project: Hollywood Cares.

“It was a wonderful moment,” said Matthew Smith, board member of Cars 4 Causes®, “Tom Fick of Project Hollywood Cares, our Executive Director, Pat Jessup and I met the Morales Family at their home and surprised them with our special gift. We wanted to honor Sergeant Morales for his service and sacrifice to our country.”  Now back in the US, Mr. Morales has a lengthy commute to Camp Pendleton everyday and with only one car, it was quite challenging for Mrs. Morales to take care of their 9 month old, manage the house and attend school where she is finishing her degree. “A second car is exactly what they needed to relieve the stress and burden of their hectic and demanding schedules,” said Mr. Smith.

Looking to donate the car to a veteran in need, Cars 4 Causes® sought out local military-focused charity, Project: Hollywood Cares, to source a deserving family for this special Christmas giveaway.  At 11am today in Hawthorne, California, Cars 4 Causes® and Project: Hollywood Cares surprised returning war veteran, Edgar Morales, with the new car at their home and a large stuffed puppy dog for their son.

Edgar, a Sergeant for the US Marine Corp, returned home in November after completing an extended tour in Afghanistan. With Edgar having a 4-hour daily commute to report to Camp Pendleton each day, his wife Wilma in school finishing her degree, a new baby at home and only one vehicle between them, the Morales’ were very much in need of reliable transportation.

“I can’t believe this surprise on Christmas Day! I am shocked and so grateful for this car,” said Edgar Morales, Sergeant in the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Supply division at Camp Pendleton. “Thank you very much to Cars 4 Causes® and Project: Hollywood Cares.  This car is perfect and it will be a huge help to me and my family.”

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Project:  Hollywood Cares to give this great vehicle to the deserving and gracious Morales family on Christmas Day,” said Patti Palmer, President of Cars 4 Causes®. “A main focus of Cars 4 Causes® is to ensure that help goes where it is needed, so to see this final outcome of people’s charity is what it’s all about at the end of the day. This is a very fulfilling way for us to end the year, and also encouraging for continuing our hard work in 2011.”

Cars 4 Causes®, America’s first vehicle donation charity, accepts donations of all vehicles – cars, boats, motorcycles, and RV’s – expertly evaluates each donation and, if cost effective makes necessary repairs in order to sell the vehicle while ensuring the highest tax deduction value and net proceeds to charity.  A select number of vehicles are donated each year directly to families in need through the Cars 4 Causes® Give-Away Program, as is the case with the Morales family.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to have worked with Cars 4 Causes® to surprise a wonderful family in need with the car on Christmas Day,” said Tom Fick, founder of Project: Hollywood Cares. “Over the last 6 years since I began Project: Hollywood Cares, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many people in need and many charitable individuals willing to lend a hand.  In this case, Cars 4 Causes® was the perfect fit for the Morales family, and I look forward to more initiatives like this to support our soldiers and veterans.”

Project: Hollywood Cares distributes products of the entertainment industry, such as DVDs of popular movies, to deployed troops, wounded soldiers in military hospitals and the surviving spouse & children of fallen heroes in efforts to support America’s military personnel for their dedicated service and sacrifice. As the charity grows through various partnerships and greater awareness, expanded programs of special projects, events, outings and hospital visits begin to offer additional support to the mission.

To see how you can help through these charities, please visit www.cars4causes.net and www.projecthollywoodcares.org.

About Cars 4 Causes®

Originally founded in 1997 by concerned parents to support education for children with disabilities, Cars 4 Causes® is a 501(c)(3) charity that accepts vehicle donations, evaluates and makes cost-effective repairs if warranted, sells them to consumers and dealers, and then donates the proceeds to the charity of the donors’ choosing. Using three main areas of sale – retail, wholesale, and clean air, Cars 4 Causes® is able to receive the highest return on vehicle donation in the industry. Since its founding, Cars 4 Causes® has received over $100 million in donations from over 150,000 vehicles, and has shared proceeds with over 15,000 charities.

About Project: Hollywood Cares

Project: Hollywood Cares is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation supported by concerned citizens, veterans, volunteers and entertainment industry professionals. It’s threefold mission is designed to boost morale, express gratitude and improve quality of life military issues while supporting America’s service personnel presently tasked with multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan & Iraq, help wounded soldiers rehabilitating in military hospitals and provide financial support & assistance to the surviving spouse and children of our fallen heroes killed in action. PHC’s detailed command support program provides large entertainment libraries that include the four major products of Hollywood, (Emmy nominated television programs, feature films, music CDs and video games). The charity conducts a wide program of visits, outings, events and special projects in support of active duty personnel, military families and rehabilitating wounded soldiers.

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1. YOUR CAR DONATION DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The food drive was held from October 25^th to November 19^th, with drop boxes located at County Commerce Bank locations throughout Ventura, as well as Cars 4 Causes^® headquarters.  We worked in conjunction with Project Understanding because they have a great operation that makes sure those in need receive emergency food supplies when needed.

Team Cars 4 Causes^® members gathered all of the overflowing drop boxes and, together with our executive director, Pat Jessup, delivered them to Project Understanding, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Rob Orth, Executive Director of Project Understanding met Team Cars 4 Causes^® at the entrance to the Food Pantry where staff members from both organizations unloaded the food items and together stocked the Project Understanding shelves in anticipation of their holiday need.

“People in need come directly to the food pantry. They go through a brief interview process so that we can understand their need for emergency food. They usually receive enough food to last three or four days,” explained Mr. Orth, as he gave a warm and hear-felt “Thank You” to Cars 4 Causes^® and all the Team Members.

While we were stocking the shelves a young mother with 4 small children were receiving their emergency food supply. The biggest thanks was to actually see how our hard work and donation is used to directly help those in need during this holiday season.

Team Cars 4 Causes® is a dedicated group of caring employees and volunteers that come together to support local charitable causes.  Another way Cars 4 Causes^® gives back to the community.

Cars 4 Causes®, “The Charity That Gives to Charities,”^® is America’s first vehicle donation charity. We are America’s most trusted and recognized choice for turning your vehicle donation into cash for charity. Since 1997, we have received over 150,000 vehicle donations; raised more than $100 million; and shared proceeds with more than 15,000 charities, schools and/or religious organizations throughout the United States. So what are you waiting for? Make a car donation today!

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1. YOUR CAR DONATION DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
2. Wish Night

Zaira endured a painful and abusive childhood before she immigrated to the United States in 1995. Forced to continue living with a neglectful and demeaning parent, she was left feeling discouraged, unsupported and completely alone. She had nearly lost hope by the time she was placed in the foster care system.

It was at this point that Zaira’s life drastically changed for the better. She made her way through grade school, graduated high school, and is now in college, working towards becoming a Registered Nurse.

“I was on my journey to become someone”, she says. ”So far, I am doing excellent….For the past years, I have had many obstacles, but I have never given up and I never will.”

Zaira didn’t just believe in herself, she put in the work, and it has paid off in a big way. One obstacle that Zaira couldn’t overcome alone though was her lack of transportation.  She saved money and bought herself a car, but the cost of continually having to pay for repairs quickly became too cumbersome, and the car eventually ceased to work.

Cars 4 Causes® was happy to help. We provided Zaira with a 2003 Toyota Corolla. It’s our hope that, with the help of her new car, she will be able to continue to thrive in school and in life, and continue to meet her goals and fulfill her dreams. Make a car donation today!

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So after a bit of searching through our database of supported charities, we happened upon Project Linus, a charity that gives new, handmade blankets and afghans made by volunteers to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.

It was a perfect match. The staff at Cars 4 Causes ® is a creative bunch with a serious knack for arts and crafts. We ended up making six blankets for Project Linus, all of which were not only warm and functional but absolutely adorable.

As The Charity That Gives To Charities®, Cars 4 Causes ® has always embraced the concept of helping others as one of our core values. But it’s not just a job; it’s a way of life.  And we’re not just employees, we’re community members.

Whether you volunteer, give financial support or donate car, you truly can make a positive impact on the lives of those in need. In the spirit of giving, especially in light of recent events, Cars 4 Causes ® encourages everyone to do what they can to make a difference, and help others in their times of hardship. Make a car donation today!

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He worked hard to raise the funds to purchase a 1941 Studebaker Champion Coupe, which he intended to fix up as a project car. On Wednesday evening, January 6^th 2010, according to witnesses, it was stolen right out of the driveway!

Barry posted an ad on Craigslist, http://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/1544223163.html, offering a $1000 reward to the person who leads to the recovery of the car.

“Help me find this Car !… This is a Lousy feeling… Imagine if you had worked very hard for something for a Long time, and some low life takes it away from you !… I feel like my child has been kidnapped…”

While Cars 4 Causes®is a national charity, we never forget our roots or our neighbors. We’re helping to spread the word about Barry’s car, and hoping that everyone’s efforts will get it returned to its rightful owner. We’re asking that everyone in the Ventura County area keep an eye out for Barry’s car, and contact Barry at 805-218-3658 if you see the car or have any information that could lead to its recovery. It’s a very unique car, and there are currently no cars like it in Ventura County, so if you see it, don’t hesitate to call.

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Since its inception in 1998, the Cars 4 Causes Clean Air Program® has allowed donors to make a positive impact on the health of our environment through generous car donations of their older, less fuel efficient vehicles while simultaneously generating a much needed financial benefit for thousands of charitable organizations throughout the United States.

We’ve gathered some current statistics to give you a better idea of what the Cars 4 Causes Clean Air Program® is doing, and what you can do to help.

• According to the Carbon Fund Organization, unleaded gasoline has 19.56 lbs CO2/gallon.

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average U.S. car usage is 12,000 miles per year.

• While the Environmental Protection Agency’s reports, states that the overall average fuel economy for passenger vehicles of 20.3 mpg. We feel the recent Cash for Clunkers program is more representative of the type of car that we send to our Clean Air Program®. Therefore, according to http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2009/dot13309.htm, the average mpg of a Cash for Clunkers trade-in was 15.8 mpg.

• According to http://www.carbonfootprint.com/plantingtrees.html, an average tree offsets 1 ton of CO2 in its lifetime (100 years)

Based on these assumptions, the average donated car emits nearly 15,000 lbs, (or 7.5 tons) of CO2 every year.  In 2009 alone, Cars 4 Causes®received a total of 3,110 car donations that were sent to its Clean Air Program®, and we’ve recycled a total of 36,692 cars since the Clean Air Program® ‘s inception.

That means we’ve kept over 46 million lbs (23,000 tons) of CO2 from entering the atmosphere in 2009. Since we started, the Cars 4 Causes Clean Air Program® has kept over 545 million lbs of CO2 per year from entering the atmosphere!

These numbers are staggeringly large, but to put it into perspective, it would take almost 272,000 trees 100 years to offset that amount of carbon!

While you may not be able to plant eight trees every year to offset your carbon footprint, you can certainly donate your car to Cars 4 Causes, and put an end to those emissions for good.

Cars 4 Causes®has always made an effort to improve the health of the environment. We recognize the need for a simple, cost effective way to reduce CO2 emissions, and we are thankful for the awareness that the recent conference has brought to this issue.  We hope that more people will realize the need to reduce these harmful emissions and chose donate car to Cars 4 Causes Clean Air Program® as an easy, proven solution to this global problem.

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The kids, Tyler, Logan and Carley, and moms, Sandy, Patti and Stephanie, all felt the joy that comes from volunteering time, efforts and resources.

The gift program, run by the Ventura County Rescue Mission, is called “The Great Toy Giveaway,” and it’s been going on for over 15 years. The Mission gives away about 3,500 new toys during the holidays, spreading the joy amongst 800-900 families, all of them low-income or families on assistance. The program is funded by the Peter C. Foy Foundation, along with toy donations from Toys 4 Tots and other, local toy drives.

As a mom, I was amazed at the sensitivity and the efforts of all of the volunteer children who came to wrap presents.

But here’s what made my heart burst with an overwhelming joy: The kids with us looked at the piles of gifts all around us as we were wrapping, and said, “This is not enough.” They wanted to give more and they wanted to do more.

We moms encouraged that seed of charity, of course; the next day, we took the kids shopping for presents they wanted to give to the kids at the Ventura County Rescue Mission. And we all went back again to wrap more gifts.

In my work here at Cars 4 Causes® The Charity That Gives To Charities®, I’m surrounded every day by the generosity of people giving through their car donation, yet I am still amazed at the human ability to give so much – and thrilled to see this spirit taking root in my child.

The volunteer kids were a blur, moving fast, putting spirit and energy into wrapping gifts for needy children.

Jonathan Leeper, the Ventura County Rescue Mission volunteer coordinator, tells me that he has children volunteering along with their parents all year long. The kids help serve meals. (The Mission serves 700-900 meals every day.) And the children help clean up the dining room after meals.

The holiday gift-wrapping is one of the most touching for the children, as they see how they can directly help other children who are just like themselves – but not so fortunate.

How wonderful it is to see the growth of charity in the next generation!

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Ivan receives a car donation from Cars 4 Causes (R)

Ivan is one of the behind-the-scenes people who make many of the youth programs, major events and Sunday services happen for the AGAPE International Spiritual Center in Culver City, Calif. He designs sets for the group’s events. He makes great use of fabrics, which helps keep costs down.  He finds the fabrics, picks them up, takes them to get fire-proofed, and then creates beautiful sets out of them.

A bonus of his efforts: he inspires other volunteers of all ages to help create the sets. And the result: beautiful, collaborative works of art that inspire the moment and also create a sense of community for one and all.

Donated Car Replaces Used-Up Vehicle

As we mentioned above, Ivan donated the services of his car as well as his own time and efforts. But then his 1984 Plymouth hit the 180,000 marker on the odometer, and it began to cost more and more in repairs. Not only was Ivan buried in repair costs, but he also could not afford to replace the vehicle. Fortunately, AGAPE contacted Cars 4 Causes® and through the Cars 4 Causes® Car Giveaway Program, we were able to find a donated car for Ivan.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of most not-for-profit organizations – from social and health services to environmental causes to religious groups – and we were pleased to be able to help one volunteer continue to give to his cause.

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After a long, and satisfying, day of hanging drywall, Haley McSweeney (far right) pauses with two friends, Carly (left) and Ilita.

My alarm went off at 6:30 am on Saturday morning, which was way earlier than I (or any college student for that matter) will ever be used to. I was excited, but mostly anxious because it was going to be my first time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. For those of you unfamiliar with Habitat for Humanity®, it is an ecumenical Christian ministry that builds affordable and sustainable housing for low-income families around the world. I set out for the HFH site, not knowing what to expect.

The nervousness subsided when I reached my destination. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the volunteers were actually college students. The rest of the volunteers were either part of a church group or independent like me.

We started with an orientation, said a prayer, and then proceeded to install drywall on the ceilings for the next eight hours. I thought it was pretty ironic that I would get this job, since I’m just barely over five feet tall. We all felt kind of awkward starting out, but we found our rhythm and developed a comradery really quickly. It’s funny how working for a greater cause can do that for people.

As it turns out, I’m not too shabby of a drywaller. I left with a newfound sense of humbleness and satisfaction.  It wasn’t a ‘look what I did’ kind of thing, but a sincere sense of joy that came from knowing that I really had made a difference.

I’m lucky enough to work for a charity that makes a difference in the lives of others every day. I spend my days immersed in a world where people are constantly giving of themselves. One thing I’ve learned is that Cars 4 Causes® employees often volunteer on their own time.

One of our supervisors uses her personal strengths and creativity to help others. She volunteers speaking to women in jail about quitting alcohol and substance abuse, and making a better life for themselves. She’s also raised over $800 from face painting at the Harvest Moon Festival, and donated the proceeds to her son’s elementary school.

Stephanie, another one of our employees, runs a ministry called Personal Touch. The ministry is an outreach program that helps people feel more welcome when they first come to church when they might feel like an outcast otherwise.

Volunteering at Habitat for Humanity® was a truly rewarding experience, and I encourage everyone to serve when you can. Make a car donation today!

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1. MAKING YOUR CAR DONATION EASY!

This Honda Odyssey van, equipped with a chair lift was donated with the stipulation that it go to a person with ALS.

The van is a 2007 Honda Odyssey outfitted with a chair lift and it was given to Norris, whose wife, Loretta, told us that it made an enormous difference in his last two months of life, making it possible for him to get out of his house and enjoy a drive through the countryside. When he passed away, Loretta donated the van back to Cars 4 Causes®, continuing the stipulation that it go to someone with ALS.

It was given to Sherry, who had ALS and who – on the day she received the van – said she would donate it forward to someone with ALS when she passed away. Sadly, that day came recently, and the van was donated back to Cars 4 Causes® to continue its journey of helping people in need.

The Honda Odyssey has now been delivered to Ronald, who also has ALS. He’s using it to get him to work four days a week, and we hope he’s going to be using it for a long, long time.

When we first talked about the van in July, we mentioned that it’s been dubbed “the car with angel wings”.  We still call it that. And we send our heartfelt thanks to the courageous people who have used it and donated it to others in need. Make a car donation today! Your donation will support thousands of people who need your help.

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The program is quite straightforward: Charities designate Cars 4 Causes® as their vehicle donation charity through our Cars 4 Causes® Charity Partners Program. Then, our donation team works with them, taking care of their vehicle donations.

Connecticut and Virginia

A Cars 4 Causes(R) Charity Partner, Everybody WINS Connecticut

One of the recent additions to Cars 4 Causes® Charity Partners is Connecticut-based Everybody WINS Connecticut – a reading tutor and leadership program for youngsters. One of the creative things this charity does is pair middle school children with younger ones, to serve as ‘reading role models’.

In Lorton, Virginia, the Methuselah Foundation is dedicated to extending healthy human life, working for strategies that promote long-term health and to finding cures to age-related diseases.

From Georgia to California

In Atlanta, Georgia, our Charity Partner, the Ahimsa House, helps victims of

Ahimsa House, in Atlanta, Georgia, is a Cars 4 Causes (R) Charity Partner

domestic violence by providing care for their pets ; in Austin, Texas, My Healing Place helps people through grief and loss; and the Reno, Nevada-based Koinonia Family Services helps find foster and adoptive homes for children. In Los Angeles, Calif., A New Way of Life Reentry Project provides reentry support and sober living housing to previously incarcerated women and their children.

Coast to coast and beyond, charities are benefiting from donations to Cars 4 Causes®, the Charity that Gives to Charities®.We encourage you to visit our list of over 13,400 charities that benefit from donations to Cars 4 Causes®. We think you’ll be as amazed at the variety of helpful philanthropies as we are.

And come back frequently. More charities are joining the list every week.

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They were brought to our attention by Echoes of Hope, an organization that helps emancipated foster youth. The charity appealed to us through the Cars 4 Causes® Car Give-Away Program. They were seeking help for two of the youth in their program who had been accepted into college but had no way of getting there.

Here are the students’ stories and why we were thrilled to be able to help:

Truck donation helps Sealy, a straight-A student, go to UCLA

Shealy was a straight-A student in high school (4.06 grade average!). She was in the foster care system for years, but instead of letting the hardships of her life defeat her, she became a track athlete and a model student. She was accepted into the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). But to go to school, she needed reliable transportation. The logistical reality was that without a car, she could not attend.

The kind donation of a pickup truck made the difference for her; she’s now on her way to classes at UCLA.

Car donation helps Darryl, a straight-A student, attend CSULA. Darryl stands beside his car, with his friend who drove him up to pick up the donated vehicle.

Darryl was also a straight-A high school student. His life up to now has also been hard. He was 7 years old when he entered foster care. He describes his early years as “random disorganized disaster.” Darryl made it through a sad and often terrifying youth, and now he is majoring in Sociology at California State University, Los Angeles. He wants to make a difference in the lives of others.

He’s on his way to classes in a donated car, a car that he’ll remember for life as the car that made a difference for him.

The Cars 4 Causes® story began with the desire to help fund the education of young people, and we’re especially happy to share this back-to-school story. It reminds us of what an impact a charitable donation can have on the lives it touches.

To see the variety of ways your vehicle donation can help, check out the Cars 4 Causes® list of approved charities - over 13,400 charities at last count, from international organizations to regional branches, to local community charities.

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We’ve been talking about this ‘double-tax’ advantage for the past couple of months. See our July blog, Cars 4 Causes® Adds it Up: Two Automobile Tax Deductions this Year! And it’s still a terrific opportunity.  2009 is – quite simply – a great year to donate a car to benefit your favorite charity.

A quick recap of those tax write-offs:

2009 Special Sales Tax Break for New Car Purchases. Equal to the sales and excise tax on the purchase of a qualifying new vehicle, this tax break is available even in states with no sales tax. (See the government’s program rules to see if you can benefit through this program.)

Tax Deduction for Your Car Donation. This is not just a 2009 opportunity. It’s every year. Call Cars 4 Causes® for more information (800.766.2273).

When you donate a car, you choose the charity that benefits, and isn’t it nice that you get a tax benefit, too!

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Donated to the Cars 4 Causes(R) Give-Away Program, this box truck plays a key role in a creative neighborhood project.esperately needed.

CityKidz is run by the South Coast Fellowship in Ventura, and the truck was donated as part of our Cars 4 Causes® Give-Away Program.

The truck is key to the success of the CityKidz program. The South Coast Fellowship painted it in fun colors and images and loaded it up with sound equipment, games, prizes and costumes. Now, volunteers take it on visits to local neighborhoods. At each stop, kids and their families are invited to come and participate in an exciting program that includes games, music, and impromptu skits.

The CityKidz’ immediate goal is to involve children and their families in expressive, creative and cooperative interaction. Volunteers visit each area once a week, and now residents look forward to seeing them arrive.  The longer-term goal is to build a relationship with neighborhood residents, one which allows the South Coast Fellowship to identify and meet practical needs.

The journey is a continuing one, and we’re pleased to see that a plain, white, donated truck could be transformed to play a colorful part in this successful program. Learn how to donate car today!

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Elings Park. A private, non-profit park in Santa Barbara County, supported entirely by donations and user fees, Elings Park provides a variety of sports and recreational activities for youth and families.

Feline Network of Central Coast. Volunteers at the Feline Network of the Central Coast work to rescue, and find foster homes for, abandoned domestic cats in San Luis Obispo County. The group’s Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program helps to humanely reduce the feral cat population.

Freedom is Not Free. This organization provides support and assistance to wounded soldiers, their families and the families of fatally wounded soldiers. Its programs range from individual assistance to soldiers for rehabilitation and necessities, to supporting other organizations with complementary goals, to refurbishing facilities that serve the wounded soldiers and their families.

Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront offers emergency assistance, support, education and morale-boosting programs for deployed military and their family members, and returning wounded warriors. The goal is to make a difference in the quality of life for military families affected by deployment.

Pacific Pride Foundation. The Pacific Pride Foundation provides support services and advocacy to the HIV/AIDS and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities of Santa Barbara County. The group provides a food pantry, community resources and education, as well as comprehensive health services, counseling and care.

Youth Education and Youth Programs. Cars 4 Causes partners with many education and youth programs. The latest to join for increased car donations are: the Boys & Girls Club of Conejo/Las Virgenes, Chaparral High School in Ojai, Calif., and Girls Inc. of San Diego.

The Cars 4 Causes list of charities includes thousands of qualifying organizations, and we are adding more almost every day. If you don’t see your favorite charity on our website, please contact us. We have many, many more charities and we’re happy to review new ones, too.

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