June 2021

At the Blaine Festival all day today! Stop by and see us and learn all about Cars For Neighbors’ updated mission and their upcoming Carsino Night 2021 event! #carsforneighbors #carsinonight2021 #cruisinforacause

“Many of the people we helped are or will be in jobs where they can’t Zoom in. They’re going to need cars.”

Link to: https://trms.northmetrotv.com/CablecastPubl…/show/27699… and Joe’s piece is at about 3:40.

June 2021

Our Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Joe McKenzie was recently interviewed by North Metro TV and talks about Cars For Neighbors’ mission and the Cruise N Shine fundraiser that will help support that mission.

“Many of the people we helped are or will be in jobs where they can’t Zoom in. They’re going to need cars.”

Link to: https://trms.northmetrotv.com/CablecastPubl…/show/27699… and Joe’s piece is at about 3:40.

May 2021

Joe McKenzie, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, was a guest of the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Report on QCTV. He discussed the updated vision and mission for Cars For Neighbors, along with the upcoming Cruise N Shine Fundraiser Event on June 5th with Chamber President Pete Turok.

February 11, 2021

Joe McKenzie, our Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, and other members of the Coon Rapids Rotary Club braved the cold last Thursday to help deliver early Valentine’s Day meals to senior citizens! The meal was catered by Lisa’s Catering.

October 15, 2020:

Cars For Neighbors welcomes its newest board member, Steve Landau.  Steve has a passion for helping others which spurred on a career as a non-profit leader for the last decade-plus, most recently as the Executive Director of the Emma B. Howe YMCA in Coon Rapids. Personally, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife Katie and his 2children (6 and 8 yrs old), but like many parents, is looking forward to the day they can safely go back to school full time! Steve is excited to join the Cars for Neighbors Board because he believes the work done makes a tremendous difference for our neighbors in need.

September 18, 2020:

Joe McKenzie, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, on the Morning Show at BOB FM speaking about Cars For Neighbors and its mission including the recently launched Environmental Initiative Project CAR.  Pictured above, Neil Freeman, Joe McKenzie and Jim Erickson.

September 10, 2020:

Cars For Neighbors co-sponsored a Golf Hole with Jeannie “GO” Grimes Mary Kay at the annual Stepping Stone Golf Tournament.  Directors, Jeannie Grimes and Colleen McGinn staffed the Golf Hole along with Joe McKenzie, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships.

July 18, 2020:

Cars For Neighbors co-sponsored a Golf Hole at the Blaine High School Football Alumni Golf Tournament. Pictured above is CFN/Meineke table at Golf Hole #8.

February 8, 2020:

Joe McKenzie, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships for Cars For Neighbors, was invited to be a Snow Sculpture Judge for the 14^th Annual Ham Lake Snow Bowl held on Saturday, February 8^th. Joe is pictured with one of this year’s winning Snow Sculpture Teams and Chris Mickman of Mickman Brothers Landscape in Ham Lake.

January 15, 2020:

Joe McKenzie, CFN Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, participated in the MetroNorth Chamber’s Working With Women nonprofit presentation on homelessness.  The panel also included CFN nonprofit partners: Stepping Stone Emergency Housing, Impact Services, Mercy Foundation, North Metro Mayors Assn. and Anoka Hennepin Educational Foundation.

June 2021

Many thanks to North Metro Connections Networking Group for their generous financial gift! North Metro Connections #nonprofitsupport #helpingneighborsinneed

May 2021

May 2021

Joe McKenzie, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, shared the updated vision and mission of Cars For Neighbors to the Coon Rapids Rotary Club this week. Pictured with Rotary Club President, Matt Stemwedel.

February 4, 2021

Cars For Neighbors would like to give a huge welcome to Holly Benson our newest Board Member. Holly Benson is currently a Vice President – Business Officer with Border Bank located in Coon Rapids. She has 24 years of banking experience and a B.A. from St. Cloud State University in Anthropology, with a concentration in Archaeology. She currently serves as an Ambassador of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce and is also a member of the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she is involved in the Working with Women group and Connecting Women in Business. Besides banking, Benson enjoys archaeology, hiking, spending time with her family, and going to the family cabin. Cars For Neighbors is excited to have Holly Benson join our Board of Directors. Please join us in congratulating her.

October 3, 2020:

Cars For Neighbors was featured in the Star Tribune article by Neal St. Anthony.  Click Here to read the Star Tribune article on the partnership between the Environmental Initiative and Cars For Neighbors.

September 17, 2020:

The Environmental Initiative Organization launches the Project Clean Air Repair (Project CAR) Program. Joe McKenzie, Director of Philanthropic Partnershipos and Anna Weingart, Administrative Coordinator co-authored a blog article about the partnership. This partnership helps CFN improve fuel efficiency for older vehicles in Anoka County and improve air quality. Click Here for a link to the Blog Article (located on our Project CAR page).

August 20, 2020:

Cars For Neighbors and Meineke Car Care Ham Lake proudly sponsored a Golf Hole at the Impact Services Golf Tournament at The Refuge Golf Course.  Pictured above (left to right): Joe McKenzie, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships; Kat Smithe, Board President; and Barb Koloff, co-owner of Meineke Car Care Ham Lake.

June 3, 2020:

Pictured above is Cars For Neighbors’ Board Vice President, Kevin Leonard, participating in the Saturday Night Coon Rapids Boulevard Car Cruise.  The Saturday Night Cruise is sponsored by the Cold Steel Cruisers MN Car Club.  You can see Kevin’s blue Mustang Convertible almost every Saturday Night cruising down Coon Rapids Blvd. Notice the banner on the Mustang promoting Cars For Neighbors NASCARade 2020 Carsino Night.

February 6, 2020:

Kat Smithe, president of Cars For Neighbors Board of Directors was recently honored as 2019 Ambassador of the Year for the MetroNorth Chamber. Kat earned a total of 364 points over the past year, with a whopping 76 points in October alone. She made 23 calls and delivered 48 directories, all while being gone February and March (in sunnier and warmer locations), and involved with the planning and execution of Blaine Festival in June!! Kat can be seen at almost every ribbon cutting and event, and many times greeting, but always helping attendees feel welcome.