By Eva McEnrue

Every car needs tires. Every tire has a valve stem. Every valve stem needs a cap. Every cap can now make a difference.

S&S Tire, the only locally owned and operated tire and service centers in Lexington, put charity in motion Tuesday through “Caps 4 a Cause,” a new line of pre-packaged universal tire valve stem caps.

This new retail program uses tire valve stem caps to raise awareness and provide financial support for five Central Kentucky charities, including the Kentucky Children’s Hospital.

“The possibility for S&S Tire to be able to raise awareness and money for charity is very motivating,” said Rick Paynter, retail director of S&S Tire. “Imagine the significance for the community if every car in Lexington used these caps.”

The caps come in five colors, each dedicated to a different charity. Each package comes with four valve stem caps and retails for $5.00 with 100 percent of the net profits going toward the customers selected charity.

The caps are available only at the 13 retail S&S Tire and Auto service centers.

“We have the possibility to make a big impact from a small valve stem cap,” Paynter said.

The charities benefitting include: Kentucky Children’s Hospital (royal blue), Wounded Warrior Project (yellow), Susan G. Komen Lexington Chapter (pink), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Kentuckiana (light blue) and the American Heart Association, Central Kentucky Chapter (red).

For more information visit www.caps4acause.com