A South Side car dealership is helping drive opportunity for families and veterans through a recent vehicle donation to Kids N Vets, a Chicago-based nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through service, mentorship, and access to essential resources.
McCarthy Ford, located at 11400 S. Pulaski Road in Chicago, Illinois, on March 2, 2026, donated a vehicle that was traded in by a customer to the organization as part of a newly initiated vehicle donation program. The program was launched by Kids N Vets to address transportation barriers that often prevent individuals from maintaining employment, attending medical appointments, and achieving long-term stability.
Additionally, the initiative is designed to give youth the opportunity to learn general automotive care by working alongside veterans, creating both skill-building and mentorship opportunities. Pete Gibson of McCarthy Ford said it was a pleasure to support the cause that Kids N Vets has undertaken.
For Michael William Brown, founder of Kids N Vets, the donation represents more than a vehicle—it is a pathway to independence for someone in need and a reflection of what community partnerships can accomplish when aligned with a shared purpose.
“Our youth are not lost; they are waiting—waiting for guidance, waiting for leadership,” Brown said during a recent event connected to igniting a Fresh Fire in men. “If a kid from the projects can make it, build businesses, touch success, fall and rise again, and still stand, then you can rise too.”
Brown’s message is rooted in his own life experience. Raised in Chicago public housing, he described waking up early as a child to clean hallways, learning discipline, responsibility, and resilience at a young age. Those lessons, he said, continue to guide his work today as he seeks to uplift both children and veterans through practical support and mentorship.
Founded in 2019, Kids N Vets focuses on providing essential resources to often-overlooked populations—young people and those who have served in the military. The organization distributes school supplies, clothing, and food to children, while also supporting disabled and senior citizens and offering targeted mentoring to youth in underserved communities.
A key component of the organization is its vehicle donation program, which collects donated cars, repairs them when necessary, and provides them to individuals and families working toward stability. Reliable transportation, Brown noted, is often the difference between opportunity and stagnation.
The impact of these efforts can be seen across the communities Kids N Vets serves. The organization has distributed more than 4,000 backpacks filled with school supplies and participated in food drives delivering thousands of pounds of food and hot meals to veterans, seniors, and families in need.
Beyond material support, Brown emphasized that the organization’s mission is also about instilling hope, purpose, and accountability.
“Money can buy you things, but it can’t buy you peace,” he said. “What we’re building is something that helps people move forward—with purpose.”
The donation from McCarthy Ford underscores the importance of local businesses playing an active role in community development. By partnering with organizations like Kids N Vets, businesses can help extend critical resources to residents who might otherwise be left behind.
Brown also stressed the responsibility of adults—particularly men—to lead by example and invest in the next generation.
“This is the time for us to step up,” he said. “Our community is crying out. Our youth are looking for direction. And the answer has to be, ‘Here I am.’”
As economic challenges continue to affect communities across Chicago, efforts like this highlight how targeted support—especially something as fundamental as reliable transportation—can create lasting change.
For Kids N Vets, each donated vehicle is more than a set of keys. It is an opportunity for someone to get to work, care for their family, and move forward with dignity—one mile at a time.
