Driving Away the Cold
Did you know that one in seven children in the Philadelphia area lives in poverty? Did you know that the federal definition of poverty is a family of four living on an annual income below $23,050? In Pennsylvania, 500,000 children currently live in poverty, without the daily essentials most of us rely on, including a warm winter coat.
Driving Away the Cold was designed to ensure that financial classifications do not define the lives of these children. It’s a unique program with the simple mission of giving new coats to underprivileged children who would otherwise not have them. The gift of a new coat warms the body and soul of a child in need. It can supercharge the recipient’s self esteem and helps him or her to arrive to school warm, on time and ready to learn. It reminds that child that he or she is important.
Each year, the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation jump starts this initiative with 10,000 new, child-size coats. To help even more, 160 local new car dealers have teamed up with their Foundation for the 2012 Driving Away the Cold program. This September, also known as WE PLEDGE month, the supporting dealerships will donate a brand new winter coat to a child in need every time a vehicle is sold at their stores.
This fall, partners at Philadelphia area YMCAs and non-profit organizations selected by participating dealerships will help get 29,940 new coats to local children who need them most. By the end of October, the Foundation will have given 108,950 new coats; an amazing feat in just five years!
