How to donate your car to charity

Maybe you're just tired of it, maybe it's no longer running, maybe you just don't need it now that the kids are out of the house, or maybe you could really use the tax deduction - whatever the reason for wanting to donate a car to charity, you should know a few things in order to make that happen.

Car donations are very easy to make, and you can include your donation as a tax deduction, while supporting a charity of your choice at the same time. So what do you need to know and have on hand to make the donation happen?

At donateacar.com, you can fill out the car donation form, pick a charity to receive your donation, and a licensed, bonded and insured towing company will pick it up right from your driveway within 24 hours of you naming the charity you want it to benefit.

The form asks you the following questions:
* Is there any damage to the exterior or interior of the car?
* Is the car driveable?
* Do you have the certificate of title?
* Do you have the keys?

And even if you answer yes to the first question, and no to the following questions, it doesn't always mean your car won't be accepted as a donation. An operator can work with you to determine if donating your car is the best option for you. That's all the effort that goes into donating your car. But make sure you keep the receipt for your tax records so you can claim the donation on your 2011 taxes.

You can list the fair market value of your vehicle (not to exceed $500) on your tax statement for that year for a nice deduction. If by chance, your vehicle sells for more than $500, you will receive a new receipt in the mail after the sale from Donateacar.com.

Yellow Ribbon Coalition Joins Insurance Auto Auctions’ One Car One Difference™ National Car Donation

The Yellow Ribbon Coalition, an organization committed to providing America's Veterans and active duty military personnel and their families with much needed services, has joined the ranks of five other national charitable organizations as a benefactor charity and partner in the One Car One Difference™ program. The national program is designed to raise public awareness about the ease and benefits of vehicle donation. Launched in December of 2010, the campaign and program is facilitated by Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. (IAA), the leading live and live-online salvage auto auction company and wholly owned subsidiary of KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE: KAR).

"As the public looks for ways to show their appreciation to our service men and women, donating their car is an option that is easy and environmentally friendly," said Tom O'Brien, CEO of Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. "For vehicle donors, the program offers full-service donation support, including pick-up and paperwork, with just one phone call. For charities, the program makes the most of IAA's broad footprint with over 155 auction locations throughout North America. IAA has a designated donation division that manages the entire process with a national call center, and team members at each branch location who auction vehicles both live and live-online on a weekly basis."

Millions of Veterans, active duty personnel and their families struggle to meet their basic needs due to sporadic service time and multiple deployments and the current economic environment has compounded this problem. The Veterans Administration (VA) estimates there are 25 million Veterans in America today, and of those, 107,000 are homeless.

"The men and women who have worn our nation's uniform face a myriad of challenges upon returning to civilian life. The Yellow Ribbon Coalition is committed to helping these heroes preserve their well being and that of their families," said John Pickens, executive director of the Yellow Ribbon Coalition. "By partnering with One Car One Difference™, we can generate more public awareness of this issue and help secure more funding for our services. This will ultimately enable us to assist even more individuals."

Currently, the Yellow Ribbon Coalition is comprised of non-profit organizations whose work is vital to meeting the greatest needs of America's Veterans and active duty military families. These organizations include: USA Cares, Rebuild Hope, Hire Heroes USA, USA Together, Our Forgotten Warriors, Project HIRED and VeteransPlus.

Since 1994, the IAA Donation Division has provided non-profit organizations with complete donation processing services – a key differentiator in the marketplace that creates a hassle-free and streamlined approach for participants – and has fueled tremendous results. In 2009, IAA assisted more than 100 designated charities throughout North America with their donation processing services. Charities find that using IAA reduces their administrative costs and assists them in putting more money to work on their stated mission.

For more information regarding how to participate and donate your vehicle, please visit www.1CAR1DIFFERENCE.com or call 877-557-1CAR.

About Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc.

Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. (IAA), a wholly owned subsidiary of KAR Auction Services, Inc. (NYSE: KAR), provides the advantage in salvage auto auctions with its Hybrid Auction Model combining live and live-online auctions, North America's broadest salvage auction facility footprint, a strong global buyer base and high vehicle returns. IAA's more than 155 facilities across the United States and Canada provide vehicle suppliers and buyers with powerful solutions to process and acquire total-loss, recovered-theft, fleet lease, donation and rental vehicles. The IAA Hybrid Auction Model, including live, live-online, and proxy bidding, united with their mature global buyer base and diverse inventory produce some of the industry's highest returns for vehicle providers. With 28 years in the industry, IAA holds a comprehensive warehouse of salvage auction data. For more information regarding IAA visit our website at www.iaai.com.

About Yellow Ribbon Coalition

The Yellow Ribbon Coalition is an organization devoted to improve the quality of life of Service Members, Veterans, and their families by providing unparalleled solutions that focus on financial security, wellness, employment, education and caring for others. The Yellow Ribbon Coalition mission is to be the primary resource that our nations heroes and their families seek first when pursuing their economic goals. More than creating financial solutions, the program adds a unique capability of enabling partners to demonstrate their commitment and concern for America's Active Duty Personnel, Veterans and their families. For more information regarding the Yellow Ribbon Coalition, please visit

BBBS Foundation in Wareham

WAREHAM —

Big Brother Big Sister Foundation is seeking donations of lightly used clothing, small household items, jeans, books and shoes. The foundation will be picking up donations door to door in Wareham Tuesday, Feb. 8. They also offer electronics recycling for a minimal fee and car donations. To schedule a free at-home pick-up, call 800-483-5503 or schedule online at www.bbbsfoundation.org. The donations help support the children involved in local Big Brother Big Sister mentoring organizations. Donations are tax-deductible

Charity's car donation helps military family out of dilemma

The Morales family doesn't have time for delays.

Edgar Morales just got back from military deployment in Afghanistan and commutes three hours a day from Hawthorne to the Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County.

Wilma Morales is pursuing a master's degree in public policy at USC, interning in Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl's office and raising their toddler.

So when the engine died in one of their two cars last year, the pair's packed schedules looked even more intimidating.

"I'm in debt off the roof for school," Wilma said. "He was borrowing my mom's car and we were looking at buying a used car from someone."

But some strangers eventually came to the rescue.

Cars 4 Causes, a Ventura-based charity that donates to nonprofit organizations, delivered a silver 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton to the family's Hawthorne apartment on Christmas morning.

"It was a big surprise," Edgar Morales said. "It was nice."

Edgar and Wilma, both now 25, met when they were students at Lawndale High School. They were chosen as the lucky recipient of the full-size luxury sedan because of Edgar's service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a supply sergeant with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton.

While he was deployed in Afghanistan, Wilma Morales volunteered at Project: Hollywood Cares, a Studio City-based nonprofit that supports military personnel. That

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organization nominated the Morales family to Cars 4 Causes when someone learned that they needed a vehicle.

"They came to us with the Morales family's situation at a time when we had the idea of supporting a military family," Cars 4 Causes board member Matthew Smith said. "We try to spread the donations around to all different groups."

Cars 4 Causes donates money to nonprofit organizations around the country but only provides vehicle donations to Southern California groups, Smith said. The group typically donates one car per month. The Volkswagen Phaeton was given by a philanthropist who asked to remain anonymous, Smith said.

Project: Hollywood Cares distributes entertainment industry products, such as movie DVDs, music CDs, and video games to U.S. troops. The organization also occasionally partners with Cars 4 Causes.

"Our military personnel are faced with many difficult challenges when returning home," Project: Hollywood Cares founder Tom Fick said in a written statement. "The Veterans Administration is overwhelmed and laden with problems. Therefore, it's so important for the nonprofit sector to step up and provide support."

Edgar Morales returned from Afghanistan's Helmand Province in November. He was deployed shortly after the couple's first son, Ismel, was born in February.

He returns home every night - rather than staying at the base for the week - so he can spend as much time as possible with his son. He said the Volkswagen Phaeton has been a huge help.

Charity's car donation helps military family out of dilemma

The Morales family doesn't have time for delays.

Edgar Morales just got back from military deployment in Afghanistan and commutes three hours a day from Hawthorne to the Marine Corps base at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County.

Wilma Morales is pursuing a master's degree in public policy at USC, interning in Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl's office and raising their toddler.

So when the engine died in one of their two cars last year, the pair's packed schedules looked even more intimidating.

"I'm in debt off the roof for school," Wilma said. "He was borrowing my mom's car and we were looking at buying a used car from someone."

But some strangers eventually came to the rescue.

Cars 4 Causes, a Ventura-based charity that donates to nonprofit organizations, delivered a silver 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton to the family's Hawthorne apartment on Christmas morning.

"It was a big surprise," Edgar Morales said. "It was nice."

Edgar and Wilma, both now 25, met when they were students at Lawndale High School. They were chosen as the lucky recipient of the full-size luxury sedan because of Edgar's service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a supply sergeant with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and is currently stationed at Camp Pendleton.

While he was deployed in Afghanistan, Wilma Morales volunteered at Project: Hollywood Cares, a Studio City-based nonprofit that supports military personnel. That
organization nominated the Morales family to Cars 4 Causes when someone learned that they needed a vehicle.

"They came to us with the Morales family's situation at a time when we had the idea of supporting a military family," Cars 4 Causes board member Matthew Smith said. "We try to spread the donations around to all different groups."

Cars 4 Causes donates money to nonprofit organizations around the country but only provides vehicle donations to Southern California groups, Smith said. The group typically donates one car per month. The Volkswagen Phaeton was given by a philanthropist who asked to remain anonymous, Smith said.

Project: Hollywood Cares distributes entertainment industry products, such as movie DVDs, music CDs, and video games to U.S. troops. The organization also occasionally partners with Cars 4 Causes.

"Our military personnel are faced with many difficult challenges when returning home," Project: Hollywood Cares founder Tom Fick said in a written statement. "The Veterans Administration is overwhelmed and laden with problems. Therefore, it's so important for the nonprofit sector to step up and provide support."

Edgar Morales returned from Afghanistan's Helmand Province in November. He was deployed shortly after the couple's first son, Ismel, was born in February.

He returns home every night - rather than staying at the base for the week - so he can spend as much time as possible with his son. He said the Volkswagen Phaeton has been a huge help.

"The car is perfect," he said. "We weren't trying to get into more debt."

Big Brother Big Sister seeks clothing donations in Dover area

DOVER — Big Brother Big Sister Foundation needs your help.

Please donate your lightly used clothing, small household items, jeans, books, and shoes. The Foundation will be picking up donations door to door in Dover on Tuesday, Jan.18. They also offer electronics recycling for a minimal fee and car donations.

To schedule a free at-home pickup, please call 1.800.483.5503 or schedule online at www.bbbsfoundation.org. Your donations help support the children involved in your local Big Brother Big Sister mentoring organization. Donations are tax-deductible.

Thank you for your support!

Habitat car donations get double value

Residents who donate vehicles to four local Habitat for Humanity affiliates through June 30 will see the value of their donation doubled.

Habitat for Humanity of Paterson, Newark, Bergen County and Morris County have a matching donation grant of up to $100,000 from Habitat for Humanity International.

The offer is good for donations from ZIP codes in Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. Donors also can request that their vehicles go to one of those affiliates.

Habitat for Humanity accepts and resells cars, boats, motorcycles and recreational vehicles through its Cars for Homes program. Most donations are eligible for a tax deduction.

The matching grant program will end in a weeklong "Jersey Road Trip" event in the spring, when representatives from Habitat's Cars for Homes program will help build homes at four North Jersey work sites.

Donors should call 877-277-4344 to arrange for pickup or arrange a donation online at www.carsforhomes.org.

Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit that provides affordable housing worldwide, was founded in 1976.