WESTCHESTER, Ill. -

Insurance Auto Auctions announced Ronald McDonald House Charities is the newest benefactor charity to join its national vehicle donation campaign, One Car One Difference.

The program now will fund RMHC chapters located in five states, including Florida, Kentucky, North Dakota, Ohio and West Virginia.

Officials believe Wednesday’s announcement marks the first of many local and regional charities expected to join the campaign as One Car One Difference continues to grow its partnership with RMHC.

IAA highlighted participating RMHC chapters will use the funds generated from donated vehicles to support its Ronald McDonald House program and other vital services for the families of seriously ill children.

In fact, officials estimate one donated vehicle can provide up to one week of housing for a family in a Ronald McDonald House, allowing them to focus on their critically ill child.

Ronald McDonald House Charities created a following video to help demonstrate the value of a donated vehicle: 1 Car = 1 Week.

“With 159 locations across North America, we understand the impact of charitable giving in communities and believe One Car One Difference will not only raise awareness of the benefits of vehicle donation, but also will make a significant difference for charities in need of additional funding streams,” stated Tom O’Brien, chief executive officer of IAA.

“We are excited to initiate this partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities in five states and are working with them to expand the benefits of this relationship to other parts of the country so that more families in need can reap the greatest value from each car donated,” O’Brien continued.

RMHC maintains 310 houses in 52 countries across the world. The Houses allow families to stay together, providing greater stability for those in need and helps children heal faster and cope better.

From its beginnings as a grassroots movement established by a partnership between volunteers and regional McDonald’s Owner/Operators, leaders said the charity serves thousands of families at their deepest times of need every year.

Through this new partnership, Insurance Auto Auctions declared One Car One Difference is helping many regional and local chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities secure more programming dollars through used-vehicle donations.

The benefitting chapter houses include Ohio’s Central Ohio, Dayton, Cincinnati and Northwest Ohio, Bluegrass and Kentuckiana in Kentucky, Red River Valley in North Dakota, another house in southwest Florida and the Tri State house based in West Virginia.

Of these chapters, officials pointed out the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio operates the second largest Ronald McDonald House in the world. The chapter has provided families with seriously ill children in this region a home-away-from-home for nearly 30 years.

In 2010 alone, Central Ohio served nearly 3,000 families by providing more than 20,000 nights at the House.

“We’re excited to partner with One Car One Difference because it is a unique way for chapters to attract additional funding without requiring us to expend additional resources,” noted Ryan Wilkins, director of community relations and marketing at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio.

“The One Car One Difference team keeps things simple by managing the entire donation process, which includes running the 24- hour, seven-day a week national call center, picking up cars from donors as well as processing them for us. The money raised through each car donated could mean a week’s stay for a family at one of our facilities, as well as meals and other services,” Wilkins added.

Insurance Auto Auctions mentioned RMHC joins six other prominent national charities in the One Car One Difference program including the National Kidney Foundation, The Humane Society of the United States, Boy Scouts of America’s Chicago-area Council, Yellow Ribbon Registry Network, American Heart Association and Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Since 1994, officials tallied that the IAA Donation Division has provided non-profit organizations with complete donation processing services — “a key differentiator in the marketplace that creates a streamlined approach for participants.”

“In 2010, well over 100 designated charities throughout North America benefitted from millions of dollars in vehicle donations through IAA’s services,” company officials declared.

“Over 90 percent of IAA vehicle donors said they would refer a friend to use IAA’s unique services,” they went on to say.

For more information regarding how to participate and donate a vehicle, visit www.OneCarHelpsRMHC.com, www.1CAR1DIFFERENCE.com, or call (855) 227-7435.