Driving Away the Cold Program Makes Stop in Phoenixville

The seventh annual Driving Away the Cold program, a philanthropic initiative of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, is distributing a record 37,606 brand new winter coats to less fortunate children in the five-county Philadelphia area throughout October. The program distributed a total of 5,580 new coats in Chester County specifically, with a delivery of nearly 1,400 new coats on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 11:30 a.m.to the Phoenixville YMCA (400 E. Pothouse Road, Phoenixville), part of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA.

The Driving Away the Cold program focuses on keeping children warm by providing brand new winter coats to those who need them most. The effort started in 2008 and has warmed the bodies and souls of nearly 178,000 children to date.

“The predicted record-cold winter has motivated Greater Philadelphia area new vehicle dealers to donate more winter coats than ever,” said Michael Chapman of Chapman Automotive Group and president of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation. “We know that one in six children in this area lives in poverty and we want to spread the warmth to as many kids as possible to ensure they arrive to school healthy and ready to learn. I am proud of the 172 dealers lending aid to children in need by providing them with an impactful gift that will help keep them warm all winter long.”

The brand-new winter coats are raised during a special month-long campaign titled We Pledge. Participating dealerships donate a coat to a child every time a vehicle is sold on-site during September. Of the 172 dealerships that participated in this year’s effort, 31 are located in Chester County including:

Anthony D’Ambrosio Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram • BMW of Devon • Brian Hoskins Ford

Colonial Hyundai of Downingtown • Courtesy Chrysler Jeep • Del Chevrolet • Del Toyota

Euro Motorcars Devon • Exton Nissan • Faulkner Buick GMC West Chester • Fred Beans Volkswagen

Fred Beans West Chester Ford • Infiniti of West Chester • Jaguar Land Rover West Chester

Jim Sipala’s Kia of Coatesville • Jim Sipala’s Kia of West Chester • John Kennedy Ford – Phoenixville

Kelly Chevrolet • Keystone Volvo Berwyn • Lexus of Chester Springs • Matthews Paoli Ford

Mercedes-Benz of West Chester • Otto’s BMW • Otto’s MINI • Piazza Acura of West Chester

Roberts Automall • Roberts Chevrolet • Scott Honda of West Chester • Sloan Ford

Sloane Toyota of Malvern • Stillman Volvo

The pledged coats will be distributed through approximately 85 different social services agencies, shelters, after-school programs, regional YMCAs, and more.

The participating dealerships in the Driving Away the Cold program are located throughout the five-county region of Philadelphia and are members of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation. For a full list of participants, please visit www.caringforkids.com.

About the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation

The Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Auto Show. Established in 2003, the Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) public charity, annually contributes funding and resources to worthwhile child-related programs and causes throughout the Greater Philadelphia five-county region. Its mission is to enhance and enrich the lives of children and youth in the communities in which its dealer members work and live, by providing access to and supporting excellence in the institutions and programs that serve local children. For more information, please visit www.caringforkids.com.