WESTCHESTER, Ill. -
Through a partnership with Insurance Auto Auctions, the National Kidney Foundation has launched a new philanthropic car donation program to support its charitable efforts to help combat kidney disease.
The program, which will formally launch in December, is called “One Car One Difference.” It calls on the public to donate their unused or unwanted vehicles to help raise funds for a number of participating charities. As the premier benefactor charity for the program, the initiative will provide the National Kidney Foundation with life-saving funding to provide additional services to both patients and the medical community, according to officials.
As consumers look for ways to give back beyond opening their wallets or simply writing a check, donating their car is an option that is easy and environmentally friendly, they added.
IAA pointed out it has extensive experience in vehicle donation, as well as a large selection of charitable recipients.
For donors, the program offers full-service donation support, including pickup and paperwork, with just one phone call. For charities, the program returns more cents on the dollar than most other vehicle donation processing companies or methods, officials stressed.
"We are pleased to partner with IAA on this exciting outreach campaign to increase awareness of the positive benefits of vehicle donations and our Kidney Cars program," said John Davis, chief executive officer of the National Kidney Foundation. "Since 1983, vehicle donations have provided the National Kidney Foundation with more than $100 million to help fund patient and professional education and early detection, research and organ donation programs to help the 26 million people with kidney disease."
Tom O’Brien, CEO of IAA, a subsidiary of KAR Auction Services, added, “We value our long-standing relationship with the National Kidney Foundation. We are truly honored to have them as our premier benefactor charity for the One Car One Difference national car donation campaign. The organization’s support further highlights the value they have known to be true for several decades — that one car can truly make a difference for the people they serve through advocacy, education and research.”
Since 1994, the IAA Donation Division has provided nonprofit organizations with complete donation processing services. In 2009, more than 100 designated charities throughout North America benefited from millions of dollars in vehicle donations.
 “The National Kidney Foundation has a rich history in vehicle donation, and has experienced firsthand how gratifying it is to see so many people donate their cars to make a difference,” said Jeanene O’Brien, vice president at IAA. “Vehicle donation not only benefits charities, it plays a crucial role in our efforts to be responsible stewards of our environment. IAA’s business model depends on recycling and reusing, which results in quantifiable energy savings and eliminates the need to manufacture more metal while also helping to keep it out of landfills each year.”