Earworm Kars4Kids jingle yanked from California airwaves for false advertising

"A state judge determined last week the charity's ads amounted to false advertising, and Kars4Kids will no longer be broadcast in California, at least in its current form, after a state judge ordered the charity to cease all non-compliant broadcasting in California within 30 days. The ruling also ordered Kars4Kids to pay $250 in restitution to the plaintiff. The court wrote that money cannot un-donate' a car or restore the donor's belief that they were helping a local, needy child."

"The infamously catchy tune 1-877-Kars4Kids/K-A-R-S Kars for Kids/1-877-Kars4Kids/Donate your car today has been on airwaves for nearly two decades. During that time, Kars4Kids has faced litigation and state government investigations for its misleading fundraising practices. Bruce Puterbaugh brought suit against the charity in 2021 after he parted ways with a nonfunctional 2001 Volvo XC valued at $250, believing it worked in service of underprivileged kids from all over the US."

"Puterbaugh would later learn Kars4Kids is used to fund Oorah, a Jewish non-profit. That organization runs summer camps in the tri-state area and organizes gap year trips to Israel for 17- and 18-year-olds. Oorah also used $16.5m funneled from Kars4Kids to buy a building in Israel as it expands its presence there. Esti Landau, the organization's chief operating officer, testified that the well-known ad does not mention the Jewish community."

"Kars4Kids funnels about $45m annually to Oorah. Of the 120,000 cars donated nationwide, approximately 30,000 originated in California, per court documents. It's unclear over what time period those cars were donated. The court wrote that when a charity generates millions annually through a jingle' that conceals its primary religious and geographic focus, it creates an unfair playing field for local California."

A California judge ruled that Kars4Kids ads amounted to false advertising and ordered the charity to stop non-compliant broadcasting in California within 30 days. The ads used a recognizable jingle and phone number to solicit car donations for underprivileged children, but the ruling found the messaging concealed the charity’s primary religious and geographic focus. A plaintiff who donated a nonfunctional 2001 Volvo XC later learned the funds were used to support Oorah, a Jewish nonprofit that runs summer camps and Israel gap-year trips for 17- and 18-year-olds. The court ordered $250 restitution and stated that money cannot undo a car donation or restore the donor’s belief. Kars4Kids funnels about $45 million annually to Oorah, and about 30,000 of 120,000 donated cars nationwide came from California, though the donation timeframe was unclear.

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