Ten Questions with Aria’s mom, Jamiee Boyan
Aria Boyan, age 6, recently snagged a ride-on miniature car by way of our Kars4Kids 30th anniversary giveaway. But someone else got the first ride! That would be Aria’s dog, Nalu.
Jamiee Boyan, mother of Aria—and Nalu, of course—filmed the whole adorable thing with her phone and sent it to us as a thank-you note. It was definitely the best thank-you we’d ever received! But of course, we wondered when Aria was going to get her turn to ride that cute little automobile, and what her reaction would be when she discovered she’d won a car. Jamiee was happy to share her daughter’s experience, from submission to victory!
Here’s how it all went down:
Kars4Kids: Congratulations to your daughter Aria for her winning entry in our giveaway! We understand that the car has already arrived, but that you kept it a secret at first. How come?
Jamiee Boyan: Thank you so much! Yes, we were really excited when Aria won the car. We were in Disneyland celebrating her 6th birthday when it arrived. I wanted to keep it a secret for a little while because I knew the surprise would make it even more special for her. Aria is always so excited about new things, and I thought it would be fun to have her experience the joy of discovering it when we returned from our trip. We love creating those magical moments for her, and I wanted to make sure the reveal was a fun surprise rather than something she was expecting.
Kars4Kids: What was Aria’s reaction when she saw the car and realized she’d won our giveaway contest? Did you get it on camera?
Jamiee Boyan: Aria was absolutely over the moon when she saw the car! At first, she was a little confused because she didn’t know it was coming, but when I told her it was for her, her face lit up! She immediately ran over to it, sat down, and started ‘driving’ around the living room—her smile was priceless. Unfortunately, I was so in the moment that I forgot to capture it on camera, but I have managed to get a few photos and videos since then, and am really looking forward to her getting full use of it when the weather is a little nicer!
Kars4Kids: How did you prepare Aria for creating her winning entry? We noticed she’s wearing something special. Tell us about her costume and why Aria wore it for her Kars4Kids jingle performance.
Jamiee Boyan: Well, it’s hard to “prepare” a busy and curious 6-year-old for anything, but when I told her I was going to record her singing the Kars 4 Kids jingle for a contest, she was so excited to “perform” and wanted to dress up. She absolutely loves Ariel, and has been a huge fan of the Little Mermaid for as long as I can remember, so of course, she picked out her favorite Ariel dress to wear. She’s always loved dressing up and turning any activity into a performance, so that dress was her way of adding a little extra magic to her submission.
Kars4Kids: We love the name “Aria.” How appropriate for someone who won a contest by singing! Is there a special story behind Aria’s name?
Jamiee Boyan: Thank you! We thought it was such a beautiful and unique name, and we also both come from Italian families. Aria translates to “air” in Italian, but it’s also a musical term denoting a “song” or” melody” within an opera meant to be imbued with whatever the character is feeling at the pivotal moment of its performance. Aria also has roots in Hebrew and Greek, with the meaning “lioness;” as well as “noble”. I love that it carries such a special meaning. It felt perfect for her from the moment we chose it, little did we know how much she would live up to her name already!
Kars4Kids: It looks like someone got a ride in the new mini car even before Aria saw it—we know because of the thank-you video you sent. Can you tell us about this mysterious “someone?”
Jamiee Boyan: Haha, yes! That mysterious ‘someone’ in the car was actually our puppy, Nalu! I thought it would be funny to give the car a little ‘test drive’ before Aria had the chance to see it. Nalu’s very mischievous, and loves being part of our family’s fun moments, so I couldn’t resist. Aria was absolutely thrilled when she finally saw it, and she had a good laugh when I showed her the video of Nalu’s ride. It was a lighthearted moment that made the whole experience even more memorable!
Kars4Kids: Nalu is such a cool-sounding name. How did you come up with that name, specifically? Does it mean something?
Jamiee Boyan: Yes, Nalu’s name actually comes from Hawaiian, and it means ‘wave.’ I have family in Hawaii and grew up going there every summer, so I have a special connection to the islands and its culture. We chose it because we wanted a name that felt calm yet full of energy, just like the ocean waves. Nalu definitely has that balance—she’s laid back, but can also be playful and full of life when the moment strikes. It just seemed to suit her personality perfectly, and we love how unique and meaningful it is.
Kars4Kids: How did you come to learn about the giveaway?
Jamiee Boyan: Well actually, I am very familiar with Kars 4 Kids as I have the privilege of working closely with Shana Joselit and your wonderful marketing department, helping to get the message out and encourage people to donate their cars to help make a difference for children in the community. I truly enjoy working with Kars 4 Kids, but what I love most about this work is knowing that every ad we place helps support your incredible mission. It’s rewarding to be part of something that makes a real difference for kids and their future.
The impact you have through education and mentorship is inspiring, and I feel honored to play a small role in spreading that message. In fact, Kars4Kids inspired me to start a private foundation, using the profits from my marketing agency to launch Lōkahi House—a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women connect and support one another. I’m proud to say that Lōkahi House has grown to include over 40 incredible women. Together, we’ve not only built a strong, uplifting community but have also given back in meaningful ways—providing meals, holiday gifts for families in need, special mommy-and-me events, fitness and wellness classes, Bible studies, and more. Being part of this movement to spread kindness and make a positive impact brings me so much joy!
Kars4Kids: Those mini cars aren’t so mini! Does it have its own parking space? Where will Aria be driving her sweet ride—should we be nervous??
Jamiee Boyan: Aria’s new ride definitely deserves a VIP parking spot—right in our garage! She’ll be cruising the neighborhood in style and while she may have a bit of a lead foot, no need to be nervous—she’s got the best pit crew (me!) keeping an eye on her!
Kars4Kids: Did it take a long to create Aria’s giveaway entry? How did you find the submission process—on a scale of 1-10—in terms of difficulty? Would you recommend that other parents enter their own children in our 30th Anniversary Cars for Kids giveaway? How old is Aria, by the way?
Jamiee Boyan: It didn’t take long at all to enter Aria in the giveaway! The process was super easy – definitely a 10/10 in terms of simplicity. I would absolutely recommend other parents enter their children in the Cars for Kids giveaway; you never know when luck might be on your side! Aria just turned 6, and she was beyond thrilled to win her very own ride-on car. It was such a fun and exciting experience for us!
Kars4Kids: What’s next up for Aria? Do you see a singing career on her horizon? How about you? Do you foresee continuing to work with Kars4Kids? How do you feel about our donation program and the work we do? Should people feel confident about donating their cars to Kars4Kids?
Jamiee Boyan: Aria is always full of surprises, so who knows—maybe a singing career is in her future! For now, she’s just enjoying being a kid and, of course, cruising around in her new ride. This experience has been wonderful, and I truly appreciate the generosity and joy you bring to families. Your donation program is incredible, making a real difference in children’s lives. People should absolutely feel confident donating their cars to Kars4Kids, knowing they’re supporting a great cause that helps provide educational and enrichment opportunities for kids. It’s heartwarming to see organizations like yours making such a positive impact!
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