VENTURA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cars 4 Causes®, “The Charity That Gives to Charities”®, today announced its donation of a Plymouth Breeze car to the Grace Brethren Church for gifting to Christina and her son Nicholas. Knowing that Cars 4 Causes’ Car Give-Away Program helps those in need, the Grace Brethren Church in Simi Valley referred Christina to Cars 4 Causes at a time when a family tragedy changed her life and left her and her son in desperate need of transportation. At 11am today in Ventura, California, Cars 4 Causes presented Christina with the gift of this donated vehicle, bringing Christmas early for her and her son.
Christina and her husband, together with their 3-year old son Nicholas, were in the process of moving from Colorado back to their native California to live in their first new home in Simi Valley. Christina and Nicholas were in the lead vehicle, her husband was driving a rented U-Haul moving truck and Christina’s best friend was following behind in a third vehicle. Only two hours into the drive something went terribly wrong and Christina’s husband crashed into a bridge support beam. The crash caused all of the truck’s contents to scatter across the highway, destroying nearly everything the couple owned, including their car that was being towed behind the U-Haul. Christina’s husband was killed instantly in the crash. Medical examiners have been unable to determine what went wrong, but it is speculated that he may have suffered a seizure and lost consciousness while driving.
Christina’s best friend witnessed the crash and called Christina’s cell phone in the lead vehicle to tell her what had happened. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Christina turned to her church, the Grace Brethren Church in Simi Valley for support and guidance in piecing her life back together. Members of the church suggested that, with their support, she contact Cars 4 Causes for help in finding a car for her and her son.
Cars 4 Causes®, America’s first vehicle donation charity, accepts donations of all vehicles - cars, boats, motorcycles, and RV’s - expertly evaluates each donation and, if cost effective, makes necessary repairs in order to sell the vehicle while ensuring the highest tax deduction value and net proceeds to charity. A select number of vehicles, about one car per month, are set aside for donation directly to families in need through the Cars 4 Causes® Give-Away Program, as is the case with Christina.
“This is such a remarkable early Christmas present! I didn’t know Cars 4 Causes did this for people. I’m so grateful for this car,” said Christina. “Thank you very much to Cars 4 Causes and the Grace Brethren Church for helping me rebuild my life. I can’t wait to pick up my son today and show him our car.”
“We are happy to be able to support Christina with the gift of this car as she so gracefully goes about putting her life back together and caring for her son after this devastating tragedy,” said Pat Jessup, Executive Director of Cars 4 Causes®. “A main focus of Cars 4 Causes is to ensure that help goes where it is needed, so to see the final outcome of peoples’ charity is what it’s all about for us. This is a very fulfilling way for us to end the year, and also encouraging for continuing our hard work in 2012.”
The Cars 4 Causes Car Give-Away Program was established to help families in need with reliable transportation. The Program works with other non-profit and religious organizations to donate about 9 or 10 vehicle per year directly to these families. Although Cars 4 Causes helps many people throughout the year, it was at this time last year, that Cars 4 Causes and Project: Hollywood Cares surprised Sergeant Edgar Morales and his family by appearing at their Hawthorne, California home on Christmas day to present them with a much needed donated vehicle. “Miracles really do happen this time of year,” said Ms. Jessup. “Cars 4 Causes is thrilled to be a part of making these miracles happen for others during this special time of year.”
To see how you can help through these non-profit organizations, please visit www.cars4causes.net and www.gracebrethrenschools.com/church.
About Cars 4 Causes
Originally founded in 1997 by concerned parents to support education for children with disabilities, Cars 4 Causes® is a 501(c)(3) charity that accepts vehicle donations, evaluates and makes cost-effective repairs if warranted, sells them to consumers and dealers, and then donates the proceeds to the charity of the donors’ choosing. Using three main areas of sale – retail, wholesale, and clean air, Cars 4 Causes® is able to receive the highest return on vehicle donation in the industry. Since its founding, Cars 4 Causes® has received over $100 million in donations from over 160,000 vehicles, and has shared proceeds with over 16,000 charities.
About Grace Brethren Church, Simi Valley
The Grace Brethren Church in Simi Valley was started in the home of Ed and Eileen Shimmel in December of 1960. There, the first 19 people were led by Pastor Elmer Frickey as they established their fellowship as an official Grace Brethren District Church. In 1961 the church moved to a building on Church Street until 1964 when the first building was constructed in its present location. The next couple of decades saw continued church growth, more building projects, and continued Biblical teaching from several faithful men. In 1983, John McIntosh, his wife Carolyn, and their family arrived to shepherd the Simi Valley church. Pastor John has faithfully taught the word of God for the past few decades and the church has continued to grow in relationship with Christ. “We don't know what the next few decades will hold for our church but we do know that our passion remains; to know Christ and to make Him known!”
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