Charities that accept cars as donations could be taking a bigger hit soon, now that the Senate has approved and sent to the White House legislation that will pump an additional $2 billion for the "cash for clunkers" rebate program.

The Senate approved the infusion of new cash for the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) on a 60-37 vote after administration officials said an initial $1 billion had run out in only 10 days.

The economy-boosting program, which the House voted last week to keep alive, gives consumers up to $4,500 in federal subsidies if they trade in their cars for new, more energy-efficient models. more >>

Compassion International, the world’s largest Christian child development organization, is in the top one percent of charities in terms of fiscal responsibility, according to an independent charity evaluator.

For eight straight years, Compassion has been awarded the highest rating - four stars - by Charity Navigator for responsible management of its finances.

Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest independent evaluator of charities. It evaluates more than 5,400 charities each year. more >>

New research released ahead of the United Nation’s International Youth Day revealed startling statistics about the world’s youth including their views on personal salvation, virginity and attempts to commit suicide.

OneHope, a children-oriented Christian ministry, found that 91 percent of youths in Costa Rica say they do not believe they will go to heaven despite claiming to have accepted Jesus Christ.

In Spain, 74 percent of the youth say they do not want to be a virgin when they marry. And in Russia, 42 percent of the youth report having tried to commit suicide. more >>

Former U.S. first lady Laura Bush and retired Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Rick Sutcliffe have joined the advisory council of World Vision's "End Malaria" campaign, which aims to reduce illnesses and deaths from a disease that many say shouldn't be as deadly as it is.

"Each of us can do our part whether we are public leaders, notable athletes or simply concerned Americans, and we thank our advisors for dedicating their time and talents to combat this leading cause of death for babies and young children in the developing world," stated World Vision president Richard Stearns, whose Christian humanitarian organization is working in 64 malaria-endemic countries. "This is a disease that can be prevented, treated and defeated."

According to reports, 350-500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide each year and each day malaria kills 3,000 children. In Africa, where 90 percent of malaria deaths occur, the disease is the number one killer of children. more >>

A man who was once part of America’s homeless population is touring the nation to educate and foster understanding among today’s Americans in hopes of sparking change.

“I hate the term awareness,” says Mark Horvath, the man behind the website >invisiblepeople.tv. "We are aware of homelessness but we choose to ignore it. I simply want to help the ignorance be replaced by understanding and knowledge."

Fourteen years ago, Horvath lived on the streets of Hollywood – the result of drugs, bad decisions and stress. Though he eventually got off the streets, he found himself homeless a second time due to the economy. more >>

A Christian adoption agency appeared on an MTV series last week that chronicles the lives of several pregnant 16-year-old girls.

“16 and Pregnant,” the new MTV documentary show, aired an episode this past Thursday night that followed a Detroit-area pregnant teen who goes through Bethany Christian Services to give her child up for adoption to a North Carolina family.

Bethany explains that it agreed to be part of the program on MTV, which is “notorious for morally questionable programs,” because it felt the show was “a great opportunity to educate pregnant teenagers to its services” so that young women viewers would consider “adoption as an option over abortion.” The agency also hopes the show will increase awareness about the many children who need loving parents. more >>