105-year-old Facebook user gifted new car anonymously

Mon, 26 Aug 2013

105-year-old Edythe Kirchmaier is quite a woman. Not only is she California's oldest driver – she just renewed her license this January after passing the test without incident – she has a perfect 86-year driving record without so much as a parking violation. In fact, she's been driving for so long that she learned how on a Ford Model T (how many people alive today have even driven one of those, much less learned on one?). On top of all that, Edythe is a philanthropist; she's been volunteering at Direct Relief, which provides free medications for people in need, for 40 years. You may have even seen her on TV earlier this year spreading the word.

So when Edythe's 1997 minivan began breaking down, an anonymous fan did what any completely selfless person of means would: they gifted her a brand-new 2013 Honda Civic, ensuring that Edythe can continue working for the cause she loves. Check her out on Facebook – she's the social media site's oldest registered user – and scroll down to the press release for more on this heartwarming story.

105-Year-Old Woman Surprised With New Car from Anonymous Fan

Gift enables California's oldest driver to continue volunteering regularly at Direct Relief

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- California's oldest driver, 105-year-old Edythe Kirchmaier, received a big surprise when she was gifted a brand new car from an anonymous fan.

Kirchmaier has a perfect 86-year driving record with no accidents, parking, or moving violations. She renewed her driver's license this January after passing her test with flying colors.

The longtime Santa Barbara resident garnered international attention earlier this year with appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Access Hollywood Live in which she inspired the world to make a difference by raising awareness for her beloved charity, Direct Relief.

As the oldest registered Facebook user, Kirchmaier's 105th birthday wish was to get 105,000 people to like Direct Relief's Facebook page by lighting a candle on the world's largest virtual birthday cake that the humanitarian organization created for her.

Kirchmaier was given a brand new 2013 Honda Civic after the anonymous fan heard her 1997 minivan was having lots of break downs and needing many repairs, jeopardizing her ability to continue volunteering at Direct Relief, as she has for the past 40 years.

Driving since she was 19, Kirchmaier learned to drive on a Ford Model T.

By Lauren DeAngelis Puckett