Chances are, you’ve heard an ad on the radio or seen a sign around town encouraging you to donate your old car, truck, motorcycle, RV or boat to charity — and you’ve probably wondered who benefits from these philanthropic gestures. In the case of Dallas-based nonprofit Cars for Kids, more than 26,000 students at Texans Can Academies (TCA) charter schools have graduated as a result of these donated vehicles.
On July 31, 2024, Cars for Kids donated $850,000 to Texans Can Academies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk students earn their high school diplomas. The donation helps TCA charter schools pave a path to graduation for students who are underprivileged, at risk, have previously dropped out of school or have other special needs or considerations that may not be served well in a traditional high school environment. With campuses across Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio, TCA relies on funds from auctioning off donated cars to cover much of its operating costs.
“In 1992, Cars for Kids was born as the fundraising arm of Texans Can Academies. Since the start of Cars for Kids, millions of dollars have been raised and donated to Texans Can Academies across the state,” says Amanda Hollins, chief operating officer of Cars for Kids. “[Donating a vehicle] is an opportunity to not only change a kid’s life but to also receive a tax write-off and a $50 gift card as a humble thank you to our donors for their generosity.”
Among those whose lives have been changed is D’Karington Chaney, 23, who dropped out of high school when he was 17 to focus on caring for his mother, who was battling cancer. By the time he was 19, he wanted to get back to school, but also needed to generate income to continue supporting his family. He was introduced to Cars for Kids by its late CEO, Malcolm Wentworth, who provided him an opportunity to do both. Chaney enrolled at Texans Can - Grant East Campus while maintaining a work schedule at Cars for Kids, taking pictures of vehicles and preparing them for auctions. He graduated in 2023 and is now on the other side of the Cars for Kids equation.
“My plan is to continue to work for Cars for Kids to help [them support] at-risk students,” he says, adding that he wants to enroll in a welding trade school at some point, too.
“I have known D’Karington for over five years and have had the privilege of watching him gain confidence and independence, and excel in his current position with Cars for Kids since enrolling and then graduating from TCA,” Hollins says, noting that he currently handles all inventory for Cars for Kids and has developed excellent customer service skills.
There’s another successful TCA graduate that Hollins has known a long time: her son, William.
“He found traditional high school [wasn’t] a good fit,” Hollins says. William Hollins, now 23, says he felt there was a “lack of structure and standards” in the traditional high school setting, and that he wasn’t being set up for success. After his sophomore year, he discussed the idea of home-schooling with his mom, who proposed the accelerated program at TCA as an alternative. Once he researched the charter school, he decided to give it a try.
William thrived within the supportive environment he found at TCA, saying he felt the teachers were passionate and focused on helping students graduate.
Through the program, he was able to earn his high school diploma a year early, graduating in 2018. He then enlisted in the United States Army, where he completed four years of service and received an honorable discharge.
“Focus, structure and consistency truly was what helped me to graduate,” William Hollins says, adding that he hopes to get into Texas A&M University School of Law to eventually become a corporate litigation attorney after he graduates from the police academy.
Perhaps he inherited the public service gene from his mom, who was working for the Dallas Police Department at the time he first enrolled in TCA. Three years after he graduatedAfter seeing her son’s success, she made a career change and became chief operating officer of Cars for Kids.
“I’ve always loved to serve the community,” Amanda Hollins says. “[During my] 15 years in the Dallas Police Department, I witnessed firsthand how youth in our community are in dire need of assistance. The work of Cars for Kids and TCA is in line with what I believe will help our community be a better place.”
For students considering dropping out of school, Chaney offers some advice. “Don’t give up … you’ll feel great after the hard work pays off!” he says.
William Hollins echoes Chaney’s sentiments. “No matter how you may feel about school, it is very important to open up avenues for your future,” he says. “More importantly, you are never too old to go back and further your education.”
To donate a vehicle, cash, or learn more about the work of Cars for Kids and Texans Can Academies, visit carsforkids.org and texanscan.org.