Have you ever noticed that older people in your life often act like little kids? The world they grew up in is gone, and this new world in which they find themselves is full of delightful surprises and little miracles. Such is the case with Kenny Jary, an 83-year-old Navy Veteran who recently had his first ride-and-drive in a brand-new Volkswagen ID. Buzz. His reaction to this modern version of a vehicle he knew so well in his youth is heartwarming, joyful, and smile-inducing all at once.
Kenny’s effusive response to the ID. Buzz was posted to his TikTok account, @patriotickenny, which has an incredible 2.9 million followers. This most senior of citizens is no stranger to going viral on the Internet thanks to his (younger) friend and neighbor, Amanda Kline, who chronicles his adventures and helps coordinate the charitable side of the operation. All we can say is that we hope each one of us is as excited to see a cool car when we’re in our 80s as Kenny here is.
Who Is Patriotic Kenny?
When we first saw this video on TikTok, we thought, “Aw, what a nice old man, and good for him, getting all this attention.” We didn’t realize until we looked a little closer that Patriotic Kenny is a force of nature on TikTok. His videos regularly get tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of views. We can see why – Kenny makes being old look cool.
His TikTok page was started by Kline back in 2021. Kenny’s mobility scooter broke that year, which was a big deal because he suffers from COPD and can’t walk long distances. The TikTok page helped promote a GoFund Me campaign to buy Kenny a brand-new scooter, and the results were beyond their wildest dreams. Kenny’s new fans gave to the tune of $149,095 – more than enough for a new set of wheels.
Because of that generosity, the Patriotic Kenny Foundation was established to buy top-of-the-line mobility scooters for veterans who need them. It’s raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and delivered 137 scooters to veterans in need.
While veterans could go through the VA to get a scooter, the foundation rightly points out that the red tape involved is difficult to navigate, and the scooters themselves, if you do eventually qualify to get one, aren’t the best quality. Kenny and Amanda think our veterans deserve better, and so do we. You can donate to the Patriotic Kenny Foundation on its webpage, as well as nominate a veteran to receive their own scooter.
TopSpeed’s Take
Incredibly, Kenny’s whole experience with the ID. Buzz was not a paid advertisement by Volkswagen. It was simply a rental vehicle that Amanda surprised Kenny with during a trip to Beverly Hills, California, to eat some expensive chocolates (it’s a whole other thing, just watch his TikTok channel). If Volkswagen were smart, it’d get Amanda on the phone to coordinate a new adventure for Kenny on the company’s dime, and while they’re at it, Amanda could use a new ID. Buzz to help Kenny get around, too.
This kind of free marketing for an automaker hardly ever comes around, so when it does, they should pounce. Toyota did in 2016 when Victor Sheppard hit 1,000,000 miles in his Tundra pickup. The brand bought him a brand-new Tundra as a reward for his persistence and loyalty. Incredibly, he’s since done it again with another Tundra, this time a 2016 model, though no one’s confirmed if Toyota has repeated the gesture. It should, and Volkswagen would be crazy not to acknowledge Kenny and Amanda for their free promotion.
Read the full article here
