BOSTON, MA – Acton Toyota of Littleton is showing its customers the many benefits of donating a used car through its dealership – it not only helps them get a tax break, but it also helps hundreds of special needs children in Massachusetts foster care find a “permanent place to call HOME.”

Over the past year, Acton Toyota of Littleton has been a top referrer to the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange’s (MARE) Car Donation Program, one of MARE’s key fundraising initiatives to maintain its mission of recruiting adults to adopt local youth from foster care. To commend the dealership’s commitment to building families through adoption, MARE recently presented Acton Toyota of Littleton with a “Friend of the Family” award.

“Sometime a customer’s used car is worth more to them as a charitable tax donation than we can give them in trade-in value,” said Mike Hills, general manager of Acton Toyota of Littleton. “We’re glad to give our customers the option of turning their used cars into a good deed for needy children.”

Acton Toyota of Littleton has referred dozens of used car owners to MARE’s Car Donation Program.  The vehicles (car, trucks, motorcycles, and even boats) are processed in conjunction with Route 128 Used Auto Parts in Waltham, MARE’s automobile recycling partner. Each donated vehicle has value to MARE, having provided over $100,000 last year alone to support MARE’s programs, such as Adoption Parties and Wednesday’s Child stories on WBZ-TV.

A local TV investigative report described MARE’s Car Donation Program as “one of the better ways to maximize donation dollars.” MARE receives 50% of the proceeds when a donated vehicle is sold, while many other vehicle donation programs contribute only 7% - 10% to their designated charity.

MARE is currently seeking adoptive families for 517 children and teens in Massachusetts foster care. Over the past 52 years, MARE has helped more than 5,350 youth leave temporary state care for permanent family life.

“Each year more than 600 local teens ‘age out’ of the foster care system at age 18 to fend for themselves in our communities,” said Lisa Funaro, MARE’s executive director.  “With the generous support of Acton Toyota of Littleton and their customers, we can continue to focus on finding adoptive families for children in state care who have been waiting the longest for a home.”

Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc. (MARE)

Founded in 1957, MARE is a private non-profit organization dedicated to finding “a permanent place to call HOME” for harder-to-place children waiting in foster care, including children 6 to 16 years old, sibling groups, children of color of all ages, and youth with emotional, physical and intellectual challenges. MARE works in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and private adoption agencies throughout the state. To learn more about MARE’s Car Donation Program or adoption from foster care, contact MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or visit http://www.mareinc.org .           

Located in Littleton, Massachusetts, Acton Toyota has won Toyota's President's Award for 18 consecutive years, and Toyota Sales, Service & Parts Excellence Awards.  Additionally, the dealership is #35 in Ward's e-Dealer 100 ranking of leading retailers of vehicles on the Internet.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA has recognized the Toyota dealership for achieving the #1 rank for Prius sales and #1 retailer of Toyota Certified Used Vehicles in the Boston Region.

DealerRater.com has named Acton Toyota of Littleton its 2009 DealerRater.com Dealer of the Year.