Driving Away the Cold Program Makes Stop in Lansdale

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 will distribute a total of 5,164 new coats in Montgomery County specifically, with a delivery of more than 600 new coats on Monday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m. to the North Penn YMCA (608 E. Main Street, Lansdale).

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, 55 are located in Montgomery County including:

Acura of Limerick • Ardmore Nissan • Ardmore Toyota • Audi Conshohocken • Audi Willow Grove

Audi Wynnewood • Bergey’s Buick GMC • Bergey’s Chevrolet • Bergey’s Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

Bergey’s Ford • Bergey’s Lincoln • BMW of the Main Line • Bryner Chevrolet • Burdumy Motors

Caitlin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram • Carfagno Chevrolet • Chapman Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram

Chapman Ford of Horsham • Conicelli Autoplex • Faulkner Nissan • Fiat of Montgomeryville

Glanzmann Subaru • Infiniti of Ardmore • Infiniti of Willow Grove • JL Freed Honda

John Kennedy Ford - Conshohocken • John Kennedy Ford - Jenkintown • John Kennedy Ford – Pottstown

John Kennedy Mazda - Conshohocken • John Kennedy Mazda - Pottstown • John Kennedy Subaru

Keyser & Miller Ford, Inc. • Kia of Lansdale • Lansdale Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington • MINI of the Main Line • Montgomeryville Acura

Montgomeryville Nissan • Murray Kia • North Penn Mazda • North Penn Volkswagen

Piazza Acura of Ardmore • Piazza Honda of Pottstown • Porsche of Conshohocken

Sloane Toyota of Glenside • Sport Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram • Sussman Hyundai • Sussman Mazda

Tri County Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram • Tri County Toyota • Volvo of Fort Washington • Welsh Subaru

Wynn Volkswagen • Wynn Volvo • Yocum Ford

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.