November 26, 2024

Dave Kelleher of David Auto on Route 202 in Chadds Ford has billed himself in TV commercials this way: “I’ve always been your dealer; you just didn’t know it.” What some people may already know is that Kelleher is community-oriented and a charitable man.

Years ago, when the Chadds Ford Historical Society and the Brandywine Battlefield Park held events on the same weekend — Chadds Ford Days and Rev Times — Kelleher paid for shuttle bus service so people could go to both events on the same day. More recently, he helped a woman in Texas with his generosity.

Kelleher said he saw her story on a local TV station. She’s a retired waitress who would give people free rides to various appointments. “She was their charitable Uber,” Kelleher said in a recent interview. But her car died so Kelleher flew to Texas, paid for a brand-new car, plus he paid for her insurance, a maintenance package, and taxes and tags.

Regionally, Kelleher is the driving force behind the Adopt-a-Child charity run through City Team Ministries. This is his 17^th year working on Adopt-a-Child.

Unlike other similar gift-giving charities that are double-blind, with neither the recipient nor donor knowing the other’s identity, those who donate to Adopt-a-Child know the name and age of the child recipient, and they know what that kid wants. Kelleher explains.

“Thank goodness for our partner City Team Ministries. They vet the need so that we know that where it’s going is legitimate.”

By vetting, he said, City Team gets a list of families and then makes sure that they are financially burdened and need help in making a child’s Christmas wish come true.

Potential donors can see the list of names and then either shop for the child they pick or give $75 per gift and let the Adopt-a-Child team do the shopping.

Kelleher guarantees 600 children — he personally buys for 300 himself — will get presents through the Adopt-a-Child efforts, but last year those efforts helped make Christmas special for 967 youngsters.

“So, I guarantee the 300, and if I had to do the 600 I would, but the help we get from the community is astounding,” he said.

As an example, he made reference to a lawyer and politician out of Media who had just sent a check for $500.

“That’s good for seven kids,” Kelleher said, then read a note that accompanied the money that said Kelleher does great things around the holidays and the rest of us should be doing more.

He then said that’s the intent, to be an example, the voice, so that others will chip in, even if they only have an extra $50 and not the $75.

“Every bit of that helps.”

It doesn’t hurt to have some friends who can help in larger ways. Kelleher is also a sports fan and has become friendly with several pro athletes who have donated. He said former Philadelphia Eagle Fletcher Cox gave $10,000 last year, and Kyle Lowry of the 76ers gave $5,000.

“Almost all of our athletes that we’re affiliated with pitch in every year,” he said. “But sometimes it’s just strangers.”

And whoever the donors are, they know the name of the kid they’re shopping for and what that kid wants. But the kids don’t know it came from a stranger. They think the gifts are either from family or from Santa.

As he said in a recent commercial for Adopt-a-Child, “On Christmas morning you’ll know a child is smiling because of you.”

Donations this year close as of Monday, Dec. 9. For more information, go here or send an email to adopt@drivedavid.com