The keys to a Dodge Journey were given to the Salvation Army during their annual Tree of Lights Kickoff last Thursday night in Omaha, NE, thanks to the local CARSTAR owners, State Farm, Baxter Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Keystone, among others, in conjunction with the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides™ program.
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 NABC Recycled Rides™ program in 2007,members of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) have donated more than 1,900 vehicles valued at more than $24 million.
A 2009 Dodge Journey was donated by State Farm Insurance. Technicians at CARSTAR Silver Hammer in Omaha, NE volunteered their skills to repair and refurbish the SUV.
State Farm offered the sport utility vehicle which was declared a total loss due to hail damage. “Dent Pros Omaha donated the paintless dent repair work on the Dodge Journey,“ said Greg Petersen, owner of CARSTAR Silver Hammer. “Our CARSTAR technicians volunteered their time to repair the remaining hail damage by conventional body repair methods.”
“State Farm has a mission to help life go right,” said Kelly Pargett, Public Affairs specialist, State Farm, “and it’s rewarding to work with other businesses and nonprofit teams to see that mission come alive in the community.”
The four Omaha-area CARSTAR locations take turns repairing a salvaged vehicle each year. Platinum sponsor Baxter Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram donated OEM parts needed for the repair. Keystone donated new aluminum wheels for the SUV.
Petersen said many other businesses and organizations donated to make this gift possible. Vendors that provided donations of parts and services were Baxter Auto, Dent Pros Omaha, Keystone Automotive, Safelite AutoGlass, Auto Zone, Auto Tech, J.D. Casey Paint, 3B’s Towing, Nebraska Frame & Alignment, Charity Cars and the National Auto Body Council.
“The Salvation Army is very blessed to partner again with CARSTAR. The gift of a vehicle allows us to positively impact many lives,” said Major Jeff Strickler, Divisional Secretary for the Western Division. “This year we have chosen our SAFE-T program to receive this 2009 Dodge Journey. This vehicle will help our SAFE-T staff fight human trafficking.”
This is the third year an Omaha-area CARSTAR has partnered with the local Salvation Army.
About CARSTAR
CARSTAR -- a part of the Driven Brands, Inc. family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands -- is North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities with more than 600 locations in 35 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR in the U.S. and CARSTAR in Canada deliver national scale, consistently high-quality vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings; all repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee. Through a variety of fundraising initiatives, CARSTAR, its franchisees, partners and employees have raised over $3 million for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and has made fighting cystic fibrosis its cause, North American wide. For more information visit www.carstar.com and www.carstar.ca and follow on Facebook and twitter. CARSTAR is actively seeking new franchisees. Interested parties should contact 844-906-9764.
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 1,900 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.
