Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to Drive in New Dollars with Vehicle Donation Program

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 10, 2004 -- The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation today announced that it is now offering a new giving option for vehicle owners who wish to contribute to the fight against cystic fibrosis (CF). The CF Foundation has contracted with the National Vehicle Donation Program (NVDP), a for-profit organization that administers vehicle donations on behalf of a variety of charities. Through this program, owners may donate cars, trucks, boats, and/or airplanes for auction or re-sale. The CF Foundation will receive a majority of the proceeds from the sale; while the donor, in most cases, will receive a tax deduction based on the fair market value of the vehicle.

"Vehicle donations have been a successful form of fund-raising for many charities in recent years. After monitoring the success of other charities' programs and reviewing the various companies with which to work, we decided that the timing was right for the CF Foundation to follow suit," said C. Richard Mattingly, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the CF Foundation. "Given the beneficial model that the NVDP offers, we are confident that we can increase our fund-raising potential in support of CF research and care. We hope that our existing volunteers and donors will contribute to our success in this endeavor and that we will be able to reach many new supporters as well."

Individuals wishing to donate their vehicles should visit www.cff.org/cardonate or call (800) 456-5517. Once the vehicle information has been accepted and reviewed by NVDP, arrangements will be made to have the vehicle picked up free of charge within 48 hours. The vehicle must have all its parts and the owner must provide the title and keys. Once the NVDP has taken possession of the vehicle, it will be sold. The CF Foundation will receive the net proceeds from the sale of each vehicle.

Donors are responsible for determining the value of their vehicle, based on guidelines provided by the Internal Revenue Service, for the purpose of making the appropriate deductions on their tax returns. NVDP provides the donors with receipts stating the make, model, model year and Vehicle Identification Number of the vehicle donated as well as the donor's name and address.

  For more information visit www.cff.org/cardonate or www.auto-donation.com.

  About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States. A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormal protein that leads to the build-up of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs and pancreas. This abnormal mucus results in chronic and life- threatening lung-infections and impairs digestion. When the CF Foundation was created in 1955, few children lived to attend elementary school. Today, because of research and care supported by the CF Foundation with money raised from donations from individuals, corporations and foundations, the median age of survival for people with CF is now in the early 30s.

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to assure the development of the means to cure and control CF and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. For more information on CF and the CF Foundation, call (800) FIGHT CF or visit: www.cff.org.