Kars4Kids, Found to Be Front for New Jersey Jewish Organization That Does Little for Needy Kids, Now Banned in CA

"An Orange County judge ruled this week that Kars4Kids, a semi-fake charity associated with an Orthodox Jewish organization, Oorah, based in New Jersey, must cease advertising in California within 30 days. As NBC Bay Area reports, the case, which dates back to 2021 and somehow took five years to decide, and stems from one man, Bruce Puterbaugh, suing the charity over a Volvo he donated, valued at $250, which he believed was going to help underprivileged childen in California."

"The ads, which have been running for almost two decades, suggest that donations go to help needy kids across the US, but in reality, the revenue from donated vehicles goes primarily to fund the programs of Oorah, including buying a building in Israel to expand its presence there, and funding a summer camp and gap-year trips to Israel for 17- and 18-year-olds from the tri-state (NJ, NY, and CT) area."

""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 charities that are honest about their missions," wrote Judge Gassia Apkarian in her ruling. The ruling ads that if the TV advertisements continue, they must contain "an express, audible disclosure of its religious affiliation and the geographic location of its primary beneficiaries and the age of the beneficiaries, specifying whether they aim for children or families, or both.""

"Kars4Kids, based in Lakewood, New Jersey, says they are seeking a stay of the ruling pending an appeal, as the New York Times reports. "We believe this decision is deeply flawed, ignores the facts and misapplies the law," the organization said in a statement. "It's well known that we are a Jewish organi"

A court ordered Kars4Kids to cease advertising in California within 30 days due to false advertising. The ads promoted donations as helping needy children across the United States, but revenue from donated vehicles was said to primarily fund programs of Oorah, including expansion in Israel, a summer camp, and gap-year trips for 17- and 18-year-olds from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. The ruling found the jingle concealed the charity’s primary religious and geographic focus, creating an unfair playing field for California charities that are transparent. If ads continue, they must include an express, audible disclosure of religious affiliation, the geographic location of primary beneficiaries, and the age of beneficiaries, specifying whether the charity targets children, families, or both.

Read at sfist.com