1-800-Charity Cars Advocacy Builds on $6.4 Million in Vehicles Awarded to Veterans, Families in Last Fiscal Year, Participation in Midas Project Spark Initiative

LONGWOOD, Fla. -- The Original 1-800-Charity Cars, America’s #1 car donation charity, is calling on the automotive industry to expand and promote its charitable programs in support of the national #GivingTuesday this November 27th. The advocacy from 1-800-Charity Cars is building on its awarding $6.4 million in free vehicles to recipients this past fiscal year and participating in the recently announced Midas Project Spark initiative.


"We see automotive leaders like Midas, the National Auto Body Council (NABC), as well as auto insurance industry giants making huge efforts that others can and should follow," Brian Menzies, 1-800-Charity Cars CEO said, adding, "Our experience working with these organizations and businesses has shown how rewarding and seamless it can be to support those less fortunate via the gift of transportation. We invite other auto industry concerns like the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and its members, as well as the automobile manufacturing sector to join in this wonderful effort."

Recently launched on October 17, Project Spark will help families, veterans, and first responders get back on the road, with Midas providing repairs (including parts and labor) for vehicles donated through 1-800-Charity Cars. This nationwide initiative is projected to help more than 1,000 people across the country like single mother of four Jasmine, who works two jobs to provide a better life for her kids; Dorsey, a husband and father of two teenagers who lost his job, got behind on bills, and became homeless; and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Tim, whose family lost everything in a house fire.

1-800-Charity Cars has a long history over two decades of partnering with automotive leaders, both locally and nationwide, to generate vehicle donations to award to struggling families. The organization leverages its substantial online community, solid reputation, and visibility in media outlets like Oprah, Good Morning America, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, CBS Morning News, The Non-Profit Times, People Magazine and others to help partners build awareness of charitable campaigns and introducing them within their specific communities where they do business, garnering support from a wide array of people.

The organization’s partnerships revolve around modest budget campaigns introducing charitable projects to communities utilizing traditional as well as innovative strategies, supported by its ability to process vehicle donations via the easy-to-remember 1-800-CHARITY CARS vanity phone number and www.800charitycars.org website. Qualified recipients are matched with donated vehicles based on specific needs.

In awarding $6.4 million in vehicles during Fiscal Year 2017, 1-800-Charity Cars continues to build on its history of awarding over 8,000 vehicles to military veterans, victims of domestic violence, struggling families, the medically needy, victims of natural disasters and the working poor.

Individuals wishing to help by donating a vehicle, running or not, can call 1-800-CHARITY (1-800-242-7489) or donate online at www.800charitycars.org.

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on November 27th and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.

For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday.org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTues and the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.

Founded by the team in the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at 92nd Street Y http://www.92Y.org, #GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. This year, #GivingTuesday falls on November 27. #GivingTuesday harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners
to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season. It inspires people to take collective action to improve their communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they believe in, and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday demonstrates how every act of generosity counts, and that they mean even more when we give together.

Midas is one of the world’s largest providers of automotive services, offering brake, maintenance, tires, exhaust, steering and suspension services at nearly 2,100 franchised, licenses and company-owned Midas shops in 13 countries, including more than 1,200 in the United States and Canada.

Established in 1996, The Original 1-800-Charity Cars (Charity Cars, Inc. DBA: 1-800-Charity Cars, Free Charity Cars), is a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization, and the first charity of its kind in the nation. With its stated mission “To engage in activities that will uplift humanity”, the organization’s main focus is to provide free donated vehicles to assist struggling families in their transition from dependency to self-sufficiency. More information is available online at www.800charitycars.org.