Give A Child Hope

Your car donation to Kars-4-Kids will benefit
Joy for Our Youth. J.O.Y. is a national organization providing for the spiritual, emotional and practical needs of Jewish children from impoverished or dysfunctional families. JOY is a registered national, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, which was established in 2000.

JOY's primary focus is on children who, without intervention, are at high risk to experience failure, social challenges, depression and other factors that lead to anti-social, self-destructive behavior. By becoming actively involved in these children's lives over the course of their school years, JOY equips them with the stability and success they need to build wholesome, functional families of their own.

JOY provides these children with a wide range of support services. JOY funds programs that provide religious guidance and education, summer camp, hundreds of volunteer mentors, parent education, family retreats, holiday celebrations and practical, financial assistance for children aged 6 to 18 and their families.

JOY utilizes the traditions, values and moral anchoring of the children's heritage to create a wholesome structure. By educating children in their heritage and involving their families in its traditions, JOY succeeds in reinforcing optimism and stability in their homes.

Why We Are special
Many charities supply money to alleviate poverty and its destructive consequences. However, when the donated food is eaten, the clothing worn out and the rent paid, nothing has changed. The family remains mired in the difficulties that have rendered it unable to cope. JOY is unique because it takes the entire family situation into account and offers help from every necessary angle. And it sticks with its families, keeping up contact with children until they are grown and thriving in their own family homes.

A strong core of several hundred volunteer mentors is the key to JOY’s success. They act as counselors at JOY-funded summer camps, as well as year-round friends and advisors, tutors and learning partners to the children. They serve as intermediaries when children face new challenges at school or at home, helping JOY to channel the right help into each situation.

They also involve the parents and children in JOY-funded holiday programs, retreats and learning opportunities, bringing isolated, struggling families into the wider Jewish community, and providing them with a sense of belonging, warmth and friendship.

Specific Programs
JOY accomplishes much of its purpose through grants to well established organizations such as Oorah. Oorah’s programs include: Enrollment and tuition payment for children in Jewish private schools, thus removing many from troubled inner city public schools; summer camp with a strong component of one-on-one mentoring; food and gift packages for major holidays; tutoring and homework assistance; one-on-one adult education and/or mentoring for parents; clothing donations; school-family liaison; family retreats; holiday gatherings; as well as financial assistance to meet a wide variety of individual needs.