Kars4kids Car Donation

Kars4kids Car Donation Center has put together a list of tax deductible filing information.

For more specific car donation tax information, check out irs.gov.

Thank you for making this process seamless and easy. I contacted the tow company in the afternoon to let them know my vehicle was ready for pick up and they were out that night. I was surprised they responded so quickly.

When I was searching for a way to get rid of my unused vehicle, I had no idea what to do or where to look. I took a chance with your website and was not disappointed. The process could not have been any easier. Thanks again.

Michelle O.

DAVE COCKRUM’S WIDOW PRAISES KARS4KIDS’ CHARITY PROGRAMS

December 7, 2009 – Kars4Kids, the nationally recognized car-donation program, has received a generous, unique donation from The Estate of Dave Cockrum. But it wasn’t the artist’s car. Hundreds of comic books, from the personal collection of the man who co-created many characters from Marvel Entertainment’s X-Men franchise, were given to Kars4Kids to benefit children.

“Dave loved to help people—he was generous to a fault,” said Paty Cockrum, widow of the popular artist who died in 2006 from complications resulting from diabetes. “He was extremely happy that the characters he created—such as Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler—became a part of the childhood memories of millions of children. He knew that was his legacy.”

The donated comics were part of Cockrum’s personal collection. “I’m delighted that more kids will benefit from them,” said Mrs. Cockrum.

Kars4Kids.org is a national organization providing for the spiritual, emotional and practical needs of children from impoverished or dysfunctional families. The national, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization was established in 2000.

For more information, contact Josh Smith at 732-730-8595, ext. 108.

KARS4KIDS SEES NEARLY 4% INCREASE

November 5, 2009 – While automakers are reporting on one of the worst retail years in decades, Kars4Kids.org experienced a surprising growth in auto donations. Though actual revenue remained about the same due to volatility in the auto-remarketing industry, the national car-donation program reported a 3.7% growth in donations for its fourth fiscal quarter and a 3.9% overall increase in donations for its fiscal year.

There were a number of factors leading to the auto-donation growth trend, said Robert Moskowitz, a business analyst at Kars4Kids. Many of the organization’s donors reported that they no longer had any need for a second car. “We don’t ask people whether or not they are currently employed,” said Moskowitz, “but some donors volunteered to our customer service reps that being unemployed eliminated the need for the extra vehicle.”

Statistics clearly show that families trying to make ends meet are reducing their driving costs and that giving up the second car saves on repayments, insurance and maintenance. It’s still too early to tell how widespread the trend toward one-car families is, but the lease market provides the strongest indication that it’s growing. LeaseTrader.com recently reported that the number of clients abandoning their leases to become one-car families has tripled in the past year.

Another reason for the growth in car donations is that the Cash for Clunkers program created a shortage of main automobile components, such as engines.

“One thing is certain,” said Moskowitz. “Despite a bad economy, Americans remain as generous and charitable-minded as ever—perhaps more so during bad times. We had calls while the Cash for Clunkers program was active from a number of people who wanted to specifically donate their cars at that time because they expected that we might be in trouble and they wanted to help us continue to fund the important programs that we’re involved in.”

Sing their Famous Jingle and Win Cash for School Supplies

August 25, 2009 – Kars4Kids, the enormously popular national car donation program known for its persistent “1-8-7-7-Kars-for-Kids” jingle, is offering students a chance at some fast cash to pay for their school supplies. As an extension of its on-going “Perform Our Jingle” Contest, the New Jersey-based charity invites student to participate with an extra cash-for-students incentive. The Back-to-School phase of the contest, which takes place at the Kars4kids website as well as its YouTube channel, was launched this morning with a new video–the second of three in a series–from famed rock-and-roll songwriter and Warner Brothers’ recording artist Peppi Marchello and his band The Good Rats.

“The Kars4Kids Jingle Contest allows anyone to perform, recreate or otherwise spoof our well-known jingle,” said Clifford Meth, VP of Communications. “Our jingle gets inside people’s heads and sometimes they can’t get it out so we’re giving people a chance to do it their way.” In addition to the Good Rats, the popular 1970s rock band that was recently inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, other “guest” appearances at the contest include performing artists Septimus Orion and the thrash-metal band Social Decay. Social Decay features Marvel Comics artist Dave Gutierrez, whose credits include Daredevil.

Kars4kids is giving away prizes from Fender Stratocasters to gaming and home theatre systems. For the Back-to-School phase of the contest, an additional $100.00 gift certificate will be available to a selected student who enters the contest before September 15.

“This contest isn’t just for musicians or people good with a video camera,” notes Meth. “Anyone with a little creativity will have a chance of winning.”

Kars4Kids is a national charity operating in 49 states. For more information on the contest, visit www.kars4kids.org/contest

For more information, call: 732-730-8595, ext. 108

August 20, 2009 – Kars4Kids, the leading national car donation program, has begun releasing the findings of its analysts in “Cash for Clunkers Watch,” a regular feature at its website that examines the effectiveness of the Cash for Clunkers program.

While Kars4kids put more than 500 children through summer camp this year, there were concerns about Cash for Clunkers’ impact on its on-going charity programs. “Since its inception, our organization has carefully monitored the effectiveness of Cash for Clunkers and we’ve been shocked by its inefficiencies,” said Clifford Meth, VP of Communications. “We discovered that the federal government has only reimbursed auto dealers for 2% of the claims they’ve submitted through the program. Moreover, nearly 80% of the applications have been rejected for a minor oversight.”

Kars4kids analysts believe that Cash for Clunkers is likely drawing money from other consumer purchases, and that it will very likely undermine future car sales. In short, the increase in current car sales are likely borrowing sales from the future.

Kars4kids analysts further expect that within three to six months there will be a sharp increase in demand at auctions for its donated vehicles as a pronounced shortage in the used car market makes itself apparent.

Meth warns consumers to carefully consider whether or not they will be able to afford their payments after purchasing a new vehicle. He also notes that the Cash for Clunkers program will not be applicable for most cars.

To see the guidelines regarding which cars are eligible and weigh the benefits against a charity donation, Kars4Kids invites consumers to their website where the pros and cons of each are carefully delineated. “Our Cash for Clunkers Watch feature will continue to keep our donors informed of further ramifications of the program,” Meth says.

Kars4kids launches Cash for Clunkers Watch feature at its website to help consumers measure relative value of program versus charity auto donations. Website will monitor issues associated with the cash for clunkers program and offer analysis of program’s impact and effectiveness. Karas4kids business analysts are available to the press as expert resources on Cash for Clunkers program.