External Relations Coordinator Invites Alumni and Community to Turn Unused Vehicles into Opportunity

During the holiday season, Alabama A&M University External Relations Coordinator and Adjunct Professor Terra Foster gave a meaningful gift to The Hill—one that continues to drive opportunity for students long after the keys were handed over. 

Foster donated her 2004 Nissan Maxima to the University’s Vehicle Donation Program benefiting WJAB Radio and TV, transforming an unused vehicle into direct support for student training and original programming at Alabama A&M’s public broadcast stations. 

The donation aligns with a new initiative announced during the University’s 150th Anniversary celebration, when Alabama A&M launched a partnership with Arc Thrift Stores, Inc., a Colorado-based nonprofit that operates the nationally recognized Vehicles for Charity program. The partnership provides alumni, supporters, and friends across the country with an easy and impactful way to give back by donating vehicles—running or not. 

“While looking for more creative ways to support the 150th Campaign, I learned about the option to donate vehicles,” said Foster. “Donating my car felt like the right choice, especially since it had been out of commission for more than ten years. It was time for the vehicle to serve a new purpose.” 

Foster joined Alabama A&M as a certified adjunct professor in the Department of Social Sciences in 2023, teaching criminal justice. She also serves as external relations coordinator in the Office of Government Affairs and External Relations and is the Alabama NAACP Youth & College Advisor. 

Through the Vehicles for Charity program, donors can contribute cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, boats, and more, regardless of condition. The process is seamless—free pickup, towing, and title transfer are all handled at no cost to the donor. 

Most importantly, proceeds from each donation directly benefit WJAB Radio and TV, supporting student hands-on learning in broadcasting, reporting, editing, and digital content creation. Donors also receive confirmation and a tax-deductible receipt for their contribution. 

“This initiative reflects Alabama A&M’s commitment to innovative community partnerships and sustains the powerful voice of WJAB,” said Elvin Jenkins, director of electronic media communications at Alabama A&M University. 

Founded in 1991, WJAB 90.9 FM was the first 100,000-watt public radio station on an Alabama college campus. Today, it remains the Tennessee Valley’s only full-time jazz station and features a diverse mix of jazz, blues, gospel, NPR programming, Alabama A&M athletics, and student-produced content through WJAB-TV. 

Foster has long‑standing ties to Alabama A&M. While she earned her bachelor’s degree in human resource management and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Faulkner University, she has actively supported Alabama A&M for nearly three decades. 

“My late uncle, Eddie B. Tolbert, and several cousins, including Roshawnda Sandlin-Carter and Kay Brooks, are all alumni,” Foster said. “To be even more connected, I joined the A&M Alumni group in 2025.” 

She encourages anyone with an unused vehicle to consider donating and making a lasting impact. 

Whether it rolls, rumbles, or simply rests in the driveway, a vehicle donation helps amplify the voice of The Hill and invest directly in student success. To donate, call 1-866-628-2277 (CARS) or visit vehiclesforcharity.org/donate-here and select “WJAB Radio/TV” from the drop-down menu.

For Foster, the impact of giving back is clear.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about supporting our students.”