Superheroes Deliver the Joyride of a Lifetime to Families Needing a Lift!

Quick Smiles:

• MagicMobility Vans, a project by the Special Kids Fund, is giving the gift of mobility to families with special needs.
• Founded by Danny Goodman, the initiative has been changing lives and making a difference since 2006.
• From Muataz Azooz, a double amputee, to the Woody family dealing with ALS, MagicMobility Vans has been a “life-changer” for families across the nation.

In the land of the free and the home of the brave, where cars rule the roads and almost everyone has a set of wheels, there’s a group of everyday heroes making a difference. They’re helping those who can’t just jump in a car and go. We’re talking about MagicMobility Vans by Special Kids Fund, an organization that’s been giving the gift of mobility to people with disabilities since 2006.

MagicMobility Vans didn’t start as a standalone project. It was actually born out of a “donate a car” fundraiser for the Special Kids Fund. Danny Goodman, the founder of MagicMobility and an Orthodox Rabbi with a special needs son, noticed something. Occasionally, people were donating wheelchair-accessible vans.

The usual routine was to auction these donated vehicles, with the proceeds ranging from $500 to $2,000. But Danny knew something crucial. A used wheelchair-accessible van could cost between $25,000 and $45,000. That’s a hefty price tag for most families, especially those with special needs members. So, instead of auctioning these vans, Danny decided to find local New Jersey families who needed them and give the vans directly to them.

Soon, they realized there was no program like this on a national scale. So, they stepped up. MagicMobility Vans expanded to fill this gap, growing from a local initiative to a nationwide program. Each received van undergoes checks for safety and durability, sometimes requiring refurbishment, before being paired with a recipient in need.

One such recipient is Muataz Azooz, a double amputee injured in a terrorist attack in Iraq while assisting the US Embassy. Muataz and his disabled daughter now use their van to get to medical appointments and run household errands. In an interview with InspireMore, Muataz called receiving the van a “life-changer” for his entire family!

Another story that’ll bring a smile to your face is about Eric and his family. Doug from sunny southern California had a van to donate, which was just what Eric needed. MagicMobility coordinated the interaction between Doug and Eric, turning a donation into a life-changing gift. Doug even snapped some photos of the joyful meeting!

Then there’s the Woody family, Kristina and Natalie, whose husband and father has ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. With some refurbishing help from Adaptive Vans, MagicMobility gifted them a van. Now, they can safely and efficiently travel to medical appointments, and Kristina doesn’t have to risk straining her back while helping her husband.

If you’re feeling inspired and have a van to donate, MagicMobility will arrange to pick it up from your residence. You can even get a tax-deductible donation for the FULL value of the van. Plus, your van could end up helping a family in your community!

Behind the scenes, Danny, his wife Judy, a school nurse, and a dedicated staff work together to make this program a success. So, why not visit their website and see how you can make a difference? Whether you’re donating an accessible van or contributing funds for refurbishment efforts, you can offer the gift of mobility to a family in need. Let’s keep this incredible program rolling!

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