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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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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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

Car Given to Friends and Families Together for Alice's House

One of our most rewarding experiences here at Cars 4 Causes® is handing over the keys to one of our vehicle donation to an individual or family in need. To see the joy and appreciation on the faces of our Car Give Away Program recipients and to know that our programs make a difference in so many lives always reminds us that “It Feels Good Helping Others”®.

Our most recent Car Give Away Program recipient was one of our charity partners, Kids & Families Together(www.kidsandfamilies.org) for the benefit of their Alice’s House Program.

Alice’s House is a wonderful program that provides a cooperative living home for young women who have “aged out” of the foster care system. It was named after Alice McGrath, a neighbor and dear friend of Kids & Families Together, who has been internationally recognized for her work in social justice. Alice’s daughter created Alice’s House in order to provide emancipated youth a home at very low rent.

Kids & Families Together requested a van or SUV to transport Alice’s House residents to important places, like medical appointments, job interviews and FOOD share pick- ups.  Cars 4 Causes® was able to provide them with a 1997 Mercury Villager, which turned out to be exactly what they needed.

It is our hope that this new van will help these young women take advantage of every opportunity presented to them. We wish the residents of Alice’s House the best of luck, and are honored to be able to support the good work of Kids & Families Together and their Alice’s House project.

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Car donations can help families in need, too. By choosing the charity that benefits from your car donation, you can directly help those in need in your community. Here at Cars 4 Causes®, we’re warmed at this time of year by the donations that we see being made in support of help for those in need of the basic necessities – food, clothing and shelter. We have many such charities on our current list of charities, and — if you don’t see the one you want your car donation to benefit — we are happy to add new charities. In fact, we do. Every day.

Here are just three of the many generous organizations that provide food and shelter.

The Central Downtown Food Basket in Sacramento, Calif., feeds seniors and low-income residents of the community all year long. They serve nearly 700 seniors and 1,500 families every month and do their best to provide healthful food. The group also provides warm clothing and hygiene product to those who need them.

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County helps provide food to those in need by working through a network of hunger-relief charities and community resources in the county. The Foodbank works to eliminate hunger on the local level by providing food and education through collaboration with others.

The McHenry House provides shelter to homeless families in transition to self-sufficiency in Tracy, Calif., and the surrounding area. In addition to temporary housing, the McHenry House provides counseling, guidance, employment referrals, financial planning assistance, medical care and addiction treatment and educational assistance for the children.

There are many ways to donate our time, money and resources. Donating a car is just one. But we’re happy to say that it can be a valuable one that provides funds to the organizations that help those most in need – not just during the holiday season, but all year long. So what are you waiting for? Donate car today!

Happy Thanksgiving. And thank you for giving!

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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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We’ve heard all these reasons and more during our many years here at Cars 4 Causes®, and they all make sense to us. Take a look at our list of reasons for making a car donation, and let us know if we missed any on your top list.

Our 13,405 Best Reasons to Donate a Car

1. Make the neighbors happy. If you own a car that’s just rusting away in your driveway or perennially parked in front of your house, you know your neighbors would love you to get rid of it. Make them happy; donate your car to charity and have it towed away.
2. Declutter. Get rid of the extra car that’s been taking up space in your garage. If you’re not using it, it’s time for that car to move on to its next driver. You get rid of a car you’re not using, and your charity benefits from your donation.
3. Save on annual car registration fees. If you’re not using a vehicle, why pay the annual registration, smog certification and insurance on it? Tally up all you can save by donating the vehicle to charity, and then choose the charity that benefits.
4. Simplify. An extra car in your life means one more major item to take care of. And if you’re at all interested in simplifying your life, what a difference getting rid of 2,000 pounds of steel can make!
5. Get a car donation tax deduction. We’ve written a bit about the opportunities for great tax write-offs this year. If you missed it, check out our blog, Cars 4 Causes Adds it Up: Two Automobile Tax Deductions this Year!
6. through 13,400.  Charities benefit from your car donation. We see this effect every day in our work at Cars 4 Causes®, and it is heart-warming. Our current list of charities includes over 13,400 organizations, and the list is always growing.

As we see it, that adds up to 13,400 deeply satisfying reasons to donate a vehicle.

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We have been amazed by the many charities that serve people and causes around the world and proud to be partnered with so many of them. There are many that provide help to schools and fill other educational needs. You’ll find several on our webpage listing of charities.  We think they’re all terrific, and here are a few examples:

Donating Cars to Education

The Youth Science Center helps kids explore and learn to love science and math, with exhibits, interactive learning programs, and hands-on learning experiences. The Center offers math, science and technology classes for students grades K-8, all with the goal of improving math and science education.

What’s In Your Lunch Box is a collaboration of doctors, professionals, interns and students who provide support to families living with autism. The organization hosts interactive education and training workshops on diet and nutrition, adaptive physical exercise and advocacy, all designed to help families manage and overcome the unique challenges and barriers of feeding children on the Autism Spectrum.

Harley School is a Rochester, New York, independent private school for children from the nursery through Grade 12. Harley School focuses on nurturing the unique strengths of each student, while striving to foster a love of learning, creative imagination and a desire for intellectual achievement.

These are three very different charities with one thing in common that touches every parent’s heart: they all exist to help our children. So do the many other educational institutions and organizations listed in our list of charities. Take a look, and see the many ways a car donation can make a difference in a child’s life.

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Some of the organizations are well known, such as the American Red Cross and the United Way of Ventura County and of Los Angeles. You’ll also find Doctors Without Borders on our list of approved charities. (See our Supported Charities page for links to these and others.)

A car donation here can help people in India

Some of the other international charity organizations are less well-known. For example, you may not have heard of the India Rural Development Fund, a California–based organization that works in partnership with other like-minded non-profits to enhance the lives of underprivileged people living in rural India. You can donate car to Cars 4 Causes® and designate the donation to benefit this rural Indian fund.

Your car donation can help build micro-business in Africa

Or, you might want to point your vehicle donation toward Africa. Another organization, the Bridge for Africa, promotes self-sufficiency and the dignity of work in rural Africa. This organization partners with African artisans to design, create and market handmade items. Proceeds from the sales of these goods go towards community development, job creation, training, and toward paying the artisans living wages.

Car donations can help children in need around the world

Another organization, the Firelight Foundation, supports and advocates for the needs and rights of children in Sub-Saharan Africa who are orphaned or affected by HIV. The foundation does this by increasing resources to grassroots care organizations in the communities.

It’s amazing to us to think that the simple act of donating a car here in America can profoundly affect the lives of struggling people on the other side of the globe, but it can. We’re humbled to know that we can be part of making this happen.

Cars 4 Causes® carries the tagline, The Charity That Gives To Charities ® because it describes so well what we do. We have more than 13,400 charities for you to choose from when you donate your vehicle to Cars 4 Causes®. (If you don’t see the charity you want to support with your car donation, call us; we’re only able to fit a partial list on our website, and we are always happy to consider new charities.)

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1. YOUR CAR DONATION DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

This year, President Obama’s I Remember. I Serve. 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance was created “to reignite the spirit of unity and service that inspired Americans in the days after the September 11, 2001 tragedy.” As individuals, we’re inspired to help through our non-profit organizations and community service.

Over the last eight years, too, many organizations have stepped up their efforts to help those who help keep us safe — our military men and women and their families. We’re happy to say that some of these are Cars 4 Causes® Charity Partners. (They’ve designated Cars 4 Causes®, a 501(c) (3) organization, as their vehicle donation facility, and people wanting to donate their vehicles can choose these charities when they donate to Cars 4 Causes®.)

We can’t name all of the organizations here, but we urge you to check our List of Approved Charities to see if you find your favorite non-profit there. Here are just a few of those serving Military and Veterans – We list them today, with our thanks:

Operation Homefront – A national organization offering emergency assistance, support, education and morale-boosting programs for deployed military and their family members, and returning wounded warriors.

Project Hollywood Cares – A Hollywood-based organization that gives copies of current movies and products of the entertainment industry to support and boost the morale of America’s military personnel for their dedicated service and sacrifice.

American Legion – With a membership of nearly 3 million, the American Legion is the preeminent community service organization for war-time veterans, with nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide, and a host of programs for veterans and their loved ones

Operation Gratitude. Based in Encino, Calif., Operation Gratitude sends individually addressed care packages to lift the morale of American service members deployed in hostile and difficult conditions throughout the world.

We’re grateful to these organizations for the work they do in support of our troops, their families, and of all of the people serving in our armed forces. In their responding to tragedy with courage and compassion, we see the best of our American spirit — our heart, our strength.

Thank you, one and all.

– Pat Jessup, president, Cars 4 Causes®, The Charity That Gives to Charities®

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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 also have the Cars 4 Causes® Charity Partners Program. (Within this program, non-profit organizations designate Cars 4 Causes® as their car donation charity, and our experienced team then works directly with them to take care of their vehicle donations.)

We thought you’d like to hear about a few of our newest Charity Partners that focus their efforts on animals.

Ace of Hearts is a dog rescue foundation.

Ace of Hearts. This is a dog rescue foundation for animals in need. Its members rescue dogs from shelters, saving them from potentially being euthanized. Ace of Hearts is devoted to reducing pet over-population and finding these dogs happy, healthy homes.

Friends of Animals finds homes for abused cats and dogs

Friends of Animals Foundation. This charity rehabilitates and finds homes for abused, neglected and abandoned cats and dogs. They run a no-kill shelter that takes animals in, some in devastating conditions. The Friends of Animals Foundation is committed to finding responsible and loving adoptive families that will give these animals a second chance at a good life.

New England Equine Rescues. This organization is a network of volunteers who love horses. The New England Equine Rescues group facilitates the humane treatment and placement of horses, mainly focusing on crisis intervention.

See our list of charities on our Website – You’ll find many, many animal rescue organizations you can designate when you donate car through Cars 4 Causes®. We’d love to list them all here; they range from the Bat World Sanctuary in Texas to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee to the Maui Humane Society.

Your car donation span geography and charity to help those in need.

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