'Driving Away the Cold' program donates record number of winter coats to kids

Since 2008, the Driving Away the Cold program of the Auto Dealers Caring for Kids Foundation has warmed the hearts of more than 140,000 area children in need by providing them with brand new winter coats. Dominic M. Conicelli, general manager of Conicelli Autoplex, serves as president of the foundation.

This year's campaign, which all of the Conicelli dealerships participated in for the sixth consecutive year, distributed more than 31,000 new winter coats in October alone, which set a new record for the program.

In addition, this year the foundation also presented $50,000 to Philadelphia Mayor Michel Nutter in support of the Philadelphia Education Supplies fund.

Among other recipients this year, Conicelli's donated coats were sent to distribution centers at the Frederick Douglass Christian School in Chester, Carson Valley Children's Aid in Flourtown, Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, and Macedonia Ministries in Norristown.

See reports on the effort from local news stations 6ABC, Fox29, and NBC10: