New Coat Program History

Early in 2003, the Board of Directors of the Auto Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia voted to formalize its charitable efforts and established the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation. In 2006, the Foundation embarked on a strategic plan to expand its giving and increase dealer involvement in its philanthropic activities. After evaluating its current efforts and the different needs in the Greater Philadelphia region, it decided to partner with an organization called Operation Warm.

Developed in 1998, Operation Warm provides new winter coats to children in need across the United States through strategic partnerships with donors and community organizations. Its vision is that every child wearing a new winter coat is healthy, able to attend school regularly and has strong self-esteem. When the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation learned about Operation Warm, it immediately wanted to get involved. The thought of a young child not having a warm coat to wear during the winter months in our region was unbearable. In early 2008, the Foundation purchased 10,000 coats from Operation Warm to distribute to the less fortunate in the surrounding five-county area in the fall of that same year.

In 2021, we are on track to distribute over 40,000, which would bring our total number of coats given to over 500,000. This is possible thanks to the support of the 170 participating dealerships and you! It is because of this support that our New Coat Program warms the hearts of tens of thousands of children each year!

History of the Foundation

Early in 2003, the Board of Directors of the Auto Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia (ADAGP) voted to formalize its charitable efforts by establishing the Auto Dealers CARing For Kids Foundation, a public charity earning the Internal Revenue Service’s 501(c)(3) status. The original goal of the Foundation was to focus on improving the lives and welfare of children in the Delaware Valley. Along with providing financial support to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Auto Dealers CARing For Kids Foundation contributed funding to worthwhile child-related programs and causes throughout the five-county Philadelphia area.  Since its incorporation, our Foundation has made $16 million in contributions to the Hospital and several other children’s charities.

In 2008, as the result of a two-year strategic planning process, our signature New Coat program was created. In just thirteen years, the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation have donated 473,928 brand-new winter coats to children in need throughout the Philadelphia region. Please see our New Coat Program page for more information about this project.

Our Mission

To enhance and enrich the lives of children and youth in the communities where our dealer members work and live.