Cars for Kids

Cars for kids both refers to a particular organization, with a particularly catchy jingle all over radio, and generally to a new wave of charities turning donated cars into charitable income for kids and general charities.

They're capitalizing on the fact that millions of vehicles, of all shapes and sizes, leave America's roads every year. Most are simply sold for scrap, with varying degrees of concern for the environment.

Relatively few are truly "recycled" by breaking them down into spare replacement parts for similar vehicles. The smallest percentage is actually dealt with using environmentally sound practices that deal with lead, mercury, and other toxins that can sink into water supplies.

"Cars for kids" also capitalizes on the fact that Americans are generous, and that we certainly are moved by kids in trouble. Kars for Kids was one of the pioneers who became a middle man between the giving public and the back-end car removal and scrap businesses.

As the charitable model was established by the specific "cars for kids" approach, other charitable organizations began to join in on a potential revenue stream. Today, hundreds of national and local organizations ask for car donations to benefit all types of charity and non-profit organizations.

While donated vehicles account for the minority of car removal and recycling, the trend shows no signs of weakening. In fact, businesses have joined in and often donate whole fleets of vehicles for good P.R. and a nice tax deduction.