Vehicle-donation programs CARS, V-Dac merge

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Vehicle-donation programs Charitable Adult Rides & Services and Car Talk VDP/V-Dac announced Monday that they have merged and will operate as a single nonprofit.

As Charitable Adult Rides & Services, they will process all vehicle donations, including to member stations of the Car Talk donation program, beginning Oct. 1, according to a press release.

“Bringing these two effective organizations together gives us greater opportunities to fulfill the mission of sustainable revenue for public media across America,” CARS CEO Howard Pearl said in a statement.

The vehicle donation programs serve nonprofits, including dozens of public broadcasters. Combined, CARS and V-Dac have returned more than $260 million to nonprofits, according to the release. Prior to the merger, V-Dac had about 120 in public broadcasting, while CARS had 286. Now, CARS works with more than 400 stations, a spokesperson said.

“We believe that the automotive landscape will see unprecedented change during the coming 5-10 years,” V-Dac CEO Mark Jones said in a statement. “The synergies between our companies will provide our nonprofit partners greater opportunities for new fundraising avenues and increased supporter engagement at a time when competition for donor loyalty is higher than ever.”

Car Talk VDP leaders Cari Ness Nesje, Twyla Olson and Beth Carter will remain points of contact for their clients, according to the release.

Last year, CARS acquired rival vehicle donation service Center for Car Donations, whose founder broke away from CARS to start CCD 13 years ago.

This story has been updated to include the number of clients CARS and V-DAC have in public broadcasting.

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