As Hal Colston chatted with Oprah Winfrey about his brainchild program, Good News Garage, he got a big surprise: Rick Hendrick stood up in the audience and came on stage to donate ten 2008 pre-owned Chevy Impalas and a $10,000 cash donation.

Colston was being honored on "The Oprah Winfrey Show/People Magazine Exclusive: Heroes in Hard Times" for his groundbreaking program Good News Garage that provides reliable cars to low income families to help them move from welfare to work. Good News Garage is a program of Lutheran Social Services.

"Rick Hendrick astounded me," declares Colston. "What a spectacular gift for deserving families in New England!"

Hendrick, the businessman who founded Hendrick Automotive Group, owns more than 80 automotive franchises in 10 states. He is even better known for Hendrick Motorsports, his winning NASCAR racing team with drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Hendrick praised Colston's social entrepreneurial vision for Good News Garage. "Oprah told us your story and the amazing work you do and how you've changed so many lives. All of us at Hendrickcars.com want to pitch in," Hendrick declared. "You're an inspiration to all of us,"

In 1996, Lutheran Social Services started Good News Garage, with Colston as its inspiration and founding director. Since then, Good News Garage has provided more than 3,200 repaired donated cars, trucks and vans to people in need in New England.

"This is a great act of generosity and humanity," reports David Kronberg, executive director of Good News Garage. "It demonstrates Mr. Hendrick's charitable and entrepreneurial approach to helping good people overcome difficult challenges."

There is a long waiting list of deserving people who need affordable cars. If you have a car, truck or van to donate, please contact Good News Garage or Lutheran Social Services today, toll-free, at 877.448.3288, or submit your donation online at www.GoodNewsGarage.org or www.lssne.org.

Families residing in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont who are striving to better their financial position are invited to apply to receive one of the Impalas. Call the Good News Garage office in your state, or download an application.