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A long-running charity ad campaign familiar to Canadians with its catchy Kars4Kids jingle will no longer air in California after a court found it violated false advertising laws.
The popular ad shows children singing a song while playing musical instruments and asking people to donate their cars.
In 2021, however, California cabinet member Bruce Puterbaugh, who is in his 70s, filed the lawsuit after giving a 2001 Volvo XC costs $250 US. Puterbaugh he says he thought the charity helped “underprivileged children from all over the US,” according to court documents.
Those documents show that it was only later that he learned that the main purpose of Kars4Kids is not to help local children who are suffering but rather to support a Jewish organization called Oorah.
In his ruling earlier this month, California Superior Court Judge Gassia Apkarian noted that Oorah's plans included “equalizing 17 and 18-year-olds to Israel.”
Kars4Kids gets a failing grade from the charity watchdog
Similar ads are running in Canada, and have been for years. That's a red flag for the Toronto-based charity.
Charity Intelligence Canada gave Kars4Kids its only one-star rating, meaning it found it failing on a number of issues, including reporting to donors about how their money helped.
“It fails when it comes to transparency,” said Kate Bahen, executive director. “You have better options to offer.”
Wendy Kirwan, director of public relations for Kars4Kids, did not respond when asked if any money raised in Canada helps Canadian children.
But according to the Kars4Kids Canada website, the business is also part of the Oorah Charitable Organization, a Jewish non-profit group. Oorah is listed as a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Canadian tax filings show the organization transferred $12.6 million to the US and Israel in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 – the latest data available – for projects such as the Texas Torah Institute and the Cincinnati Hebrew Day School.
Oorah's CRA filing shows $19 billion in spending in the 2024-25 fiscal year, including $3.7 million in marketing and promotions.
The law and the facts are clear from our side.”– Wendy Kirwan, Kars4Kids director of public relations
In an emailed statement to CBC News, Kirwan said Kars4Kids Canada is a different organization than the one in the United States.
But regarding the California decision, he added that “the decision is seriously flawed, ignores the facts, and abuses the law. Kars4Kids expects to win on appeal because the law and the facts are clearly on our side.”
