Our Programs - Kars For Kids

Kars4kids boasts many great initiatives, including a grant program, a summer camp, an innovative way to keep children safe, and a progressive parenting blog. Catch up on what we’ve been busy with below.

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How it started

Kars4Kids began as a DBA of JOY for Our Youth,  which officially became Kars4Kids, Inc. in 2014. 

1 877 kars 4 kids branding photo of a ginger kid driving a car

Kars4Kids Gives

Since our first coat giveaway in 2010, Kars4Kids Gives has been responding to the needs of the community with various charity events and giveaways throughout the year. Every distribution helps us reach more families and children in areas of need.

Kars4Kids Small Grant Program

The Kars4Kids Small Grant Program provides financial support for organizations and establishments that are furthering opportunity for the youth of our generation by inspiring them to pursue education and fulfill their potential. Grants range in amount based on factors like mission alignment and availability of funds.

At Kars4Kids, we believe that money should never stand in the way of a child’s education and the environment where they would learn best. Some children would thrive in private school because they are disabled, need special instruction, is religious, or would thrive with more individualized attention. We offer scholarships to parents struggling to afford the expenses of school.

Oorah

A focal point of the way Kars4Kids reaches children has always been mentorship. We work together with our sister charity, Oorah, to give children the tools and guidance they need to make their family and community proud. Through our events and programs, countless children have found their path and set out upon it, with purpose and direction.

Youth groups are ran in dozens of locations across the country, where the staff works to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, where the teens can be their true selves. Fun activities and programs help give them an outlet and a safe place to relax and learn. Many children from low-income or single-parent homes, are given the opportunity of spending a summer at our summer camp.

With our large network of dedicated volunteers, a remarkably low staff-to-camper ratio allows us to give each camper personal attention and mentorship. The friendships and mentorships fostered in camp are kept alive throughout the year with reunions and events on campgrounds. We also host an interactive, fun-filled summer experience for college-aged students.

Attendees have the opportunity to connect with mentors through peer discussion groups and workshops, and create life-long friendships.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you want to actually see what Kars4Kids has been up to, Kars4Kids Pictures houses our gallery of years-worth of pictures.

Oorah logo
Lots of kids wearing Oorah T Shirts in camp

ChillZone

ChillZone is an exciting weekly program run every Saturday night during the winter seasons for teens. With dozens of locations across North America, hundreds of youth are exposed to Jewish culture and tradition. The staff works to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, where the teens can be their true selves. Fun activities and programs help give them an outlet and a safe place to relax and learn.

ChillZone logo
image of the girls program @ChillZone

TheZone

Our overnight summer camp provides a positive summer of growth in a warm and welcoming atmosphere for over 750 Jewish children and teens. Set in the scenic countryside, our campgrounds are sprawling dreamlands for children, with first class amenities and a menagerie of exotic animals. Many of our children come from low-income or single-parent homes, and the opportunity of spending a summer at TheZone is life-changing. With our large network of dedicated volunteers, a remarkably low staff-to-camper ratio allows us to give each camper personal attention and mentorship. The friendships and mentorships fostered in camp are kept alive throughout the year with reunions and events on campgrounds.

TheZone logo
TheZone - View of the camp

DiscoverU

Nestled in the Catskill mountains, DiscoverU is an interactive, fun-filled summer experience for college-aged students. Attendees have the opportunity to connect with mentors through peer discussion groups and workshops, and create life-long friendships.

DiscoverU - a Kars4kids program
Ziplining at one of the Kars4kids camp programs

Kars4Kids Parenting Blog

There are many ways you can access the information and values so important to Kars4Kids. Our Parenting Blog is a great resource for any parent who can use some support and practical advice. (So, all of them.) With innovative tips and quick recipes for your picky eater, this blog discusses the real-life issues and awesomeness of being responsible for your little one.

A woman being pointed at with many fingers holding a child - Kars4kids parenting blog

Kars4Kids Blog

The Kars4Kids Blog is your one-stop blog to catch up on everything car-related. Here’s where you find out what goes on behind the scenes. We’ve got you covered whether you want to know about DIY tinkering, which cars are more accident-prone, or which states have the highest prices for used-cars.

A camp instructor and 2 children wearing kars4kids t shirts

Every day is Earth Day at Kars4Kids. We try to do our part to keep the earth clean. In 2020, we celebrated recycling 458,215 cars so far.

Sandy Car Factor

In the Sandy Car Factor, we educate you on how to avoid scammers and protect yourself from purchasing a flood-damaged car. You can also read some of the most touching stories behind donations and catch up on fascinating Sandy stats.

Flood Cars

Having experienced firsthand the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, and being on the front lines of the recovery efforts, we compiled the comprehensive Flood Cars guide to flooded cars, hoping our experience and expertise can be of help to those devastated by hurricanes.

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With all the important work that we’re involved in, we still manage to sneak in some fun. Check out some of the more hilarious and well-known gags and experiments that Kars4Kids has pulled over the years:

The Beep-Off App

We’ve all had that moment where you just wanted that awful driver to get the beep off the road. Well, now with the beep-off app, you can arrange just that! Is he driving 45 in the passing lane? One click on the beep-off app, and you just donated his car to Kars4Kids! He’ll be off the road in seconds.

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Hot Car Challenge

Kars4Kids conducts a social experiment to raise awareness about the danger of hot cars by offering $100 to anybody that’s able to do the #Kars4kids Hot Car Challenge for only 10 minutes. Curious if anybody made it? Check that out here, and download that Kars4Kids safety app. 

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Kids4kars

Sure, we’ve had the occasional wise-guy asking us if they could donate their kid and get a car in return. So much so, that one April 1, we decided to just make it an option. This is kid donation made easy, with a simple, hassle-free donation process. All kids are accepted, regardless of temperament. Take advantage today!

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Kars4Kids Safety App

Sure, nobody wants to think it can happen to them. And hopefully, it never will. But are you willing to take the chance? With the Kars4Kids safety app, you don’t have to. The app is designed to alert drivers when they leave their cars. This ensures that no child is accidentally left behind in hot back seats. 

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Kars4kids Safety App