Jingle back on California airwaves after court grants charity a reprieve

California’s appellate court granted a temporary reprieve for Kars4Kids’ charity advertising, permitting its long-running car-donation jingle to stay on air in the state while an appeal proceeds. A May ruling by Judge Gassia Apkarian of the Superior Court of California had ordered ads off the air unless an express audible disclosure of the charity’s affiliation and proceeds was added. The decision stemmed from a 2021 donation of a 2001 Volvo XC by Bruce Puterbaugh, who later learned that the campaign funds a Jewish organization called Oorah, whose programs include matchmaking for young adults and gap year trips to Israel. The Thursday Fourth Appellate District stayed the injunction, allowing the jingle to remain on air pending appeal or further order. CBC pulled their ads in light of the ruling, and Kars4Kids remains engaged in the broader dispute as it defends the charity’s impact. The appeals process could influence future charity advertising and regulatory disclosure standards in California.