dailyloe.com – The Kars4Kids jingle has been banned in California after a state judge ruled that the charity’s advertisements constituted false advertising. This decision came last week following a lawsuit brought by Bruce Puterbaugh in 2021.
Puterbaugh claimed he was misled when donating his nonfunctional 2001 Volvo XC, believing Kars4Kids helped underprivileged children in the U.S. He later discovered that Kars4Kids primarily funds Oorah, a Jewish non-profit.
The organization operates summer camps and organizes trips to Israel for teenagers. In court, Puterbaugh expressed, “I feel taken advantage of by the ad and information that was not there.”
Esti Landau, the chief operating officer of Kars4Kids, confirmed that the advertisement does not mention its connection to the Jewish community. The charity reportedly funnels about $45 million annually to Oorah.
According to court documents, Kars4Kids has faced scrutiny for its fundraising practices over the past two decades. Of the 120,000 cars donated across the U.S., approximately 30,000 were from California, though the time frame for these donations is unclear.
The court ordered Kars4Kids to pay $250 in restitution to Puterbaugh and mandated that it cease all non-compliant broadcasting in California within 30 days. The ruling emphasized that money cannot restore donors’ trust or un-donate a car.
The court stated, “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.”
Future advertisements for Kars4Kids in California must disclose its religious ties and geographic focus. Additionally, ads cannot feature images of prepubescent children, as Oorah’s programs cater to older teens.
