On Tuesday, September 17, a deserving Spotsylvania, VA family experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of a vehicle to provide them independence and the ability to work and take care of their family – thanks to the National Auto Body Council™ Recycled Rides® program along with car donor State Farm® and repair partner Caliber Collision – Culpeper, whose technicians donated their time to restore the vehicle. The presentation was held as part of the CIECA Connex Conference at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel.
“It’s an honor to be able to partner with these industry leaders to refurbish a vehicle and present it to such a deserving family,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of the National Auto Body Council™. “We are all grateful for the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our military and indebted to them for their contributions.”
NABC, CIECA, State Farm and Caliber Collision - Culpeper presented a refurbished 2012 Toyota Camry to Doris and Roy Robinson of Spotsylvania, VA., who were nominated by the nonprofit Tuesday’s Children.
They are Gold Star parents whose son, Stacey Robinson, served 17 years in the Navy. He served most of his military career at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC. During his tours of 17 years, he was awarded: Good Conduct Medal, Battle "E" Ribbon (2 each), Coast Guard SOS Ribbon, Blue Jacket of the Quarter and Pro of the Month, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Services Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Services Medal, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Expert Pistol Medal, NAF LACAIR Sailor of the Quarter (2 each), VP-68 Sailor of the Quarter, VP-48 Sailor of the Quarter (2 each), Armed Forces Reserved Medal, the David Price Memorial Leadership Award and Sailor of the Year for two consecutive years.
The Robinsons currently have an unreliable vehicle and have to rely on their children, who work full time, for transportation to medical visits and everyday tasks. The presentation of a NABC™ Recycled Ride® will provide them independence to visit their grandchildren and be able to easily get to medical appointments.
“This vehicle is a blessing from God and it came at just the right time,” said Doris Robinson, of her cherry red Camry. “We have a lot of church activities and medical appointments that this will allow us to get to. And we’ll be able to see our grandchildren more often. We are so thankful to the Gold Star organization which led us to Tuesday’s Children and now this miracle today.”
NABC™ Recycled Rides® is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the Recycled Rides® program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council™ have donated more than 2,200 vehicles valued at more than $36 million.
Additional partners in the NABC™ Recycled Rides® presentation included 1-800 Charity Cars, Battlefield Toyota, Fisher Auto Parts, Napa Auto Parts, Pixley Automotive, Outlaw Motor Sports and Wheels on Site.ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL™
The National Auto Body Council™ is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council™ has gifted more than 2,200 vehicles, provided extrication opportunities for over 1,000 First Responders and contributed to thousands of distracted driving pledges in communities through NABC™ Recycled Rides®, First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the Distracted Driving Initiative™. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC™ membership dollars. The National Auto Body Council™ is changing the paradigm of how the collision industry works and is viewed. For more information, visit www.NationalAutoBodyCouncil.org.
