The Day Kai Reed, Kelly Clarkson, and Marty Schwartz Broke the Internet
March 27, 2025Kai Reed, anchor and reporter for WBAL TV, first heard about Vehicles for Change in 2022 when she was invited to speak about the organization on The Kelly Clarkson Show. She had the honor of introducing Marty Schwartz, the president of Vehicles for Change, to a national audience. From the moment Kai learned about its mission, she felt a profound connection. It quickly became clear just how extraordinary the work of Vehicles for Change was—changing lives with unwavering care and highlighting the profound impact that reliable transportation can have on a person’s future.
Meeting Marty Schwartz in person only deepened her admiration for the organization. His boundless energy and passion for helping others were instantly clear. His excitement was infectious, and Kai couldn’t help but be inspired by the way he and his team poured their hearts into changing lives. She felt humbled to play a role in sharing that passion with the world, knowing that raising awareness meant more people could receive the second chance they so desperately needed.
During the segment on The Kelly Clarkson Show, which aired nationwide on November 22, 2022 (Giving Tuesday), Kai witnessed an unforgettable moment when Vehicles for Change gifted a car to a hardworking mother. As the car keys landed in her hands, her eyes welled with tears. In that instant, that mother’s world changed. The weight of struggle lifted just a little, replaced by the sheer joy of knowing that someone believed in her enough to help her move forward.
Kai left that experience deeply moved, carrying with her the hope that Vehicles for Change would continue to touch lives with the same love and generosity she had witnessed. She dreams of seeing the organization receive all the support it needs to expand its reach because every person deserves the dignity of opportunity, and every family deserves the chance to build a better future.
Reflecting on her own journey, Kai thought back to her very first car—a red Saturn, a brand that no longer exists. She doesn’t recall exactly where she drove it first, but she knows it was likely to a sports practice or a dance class, the miles piling up with every dream she chased. That car represented freedom, a sentiment that resonates even more deeply now that she has seen firsthand what a simple set of keys can mean to someone fighting for a new beginning.
Through her experience working with Vehicles for Change, Kai Reed has not only shared their mission but has felt its impact in the depths of her heart. It is a mission that continues to transform lives, one car, one key, one dream at a time.
Check out the segment from The Kelly Clarkson Show! On the very day it aired, Vehicles for Change experienced an overwhelming surge of support—so many people visited vehiclesforchange.org that the website briefly crashed, marking a record-breaking moment for the organization!
