On Thursday, April 4, four deserving Dallas residents experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of vehicles to provide them independence and the ability to work and take care of their families – thanks to the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program; car donors Allstate, GEICO, Farmers and State Farm; and collision repair partners Service King Euless, Caliber Collision Frisco, Berkshire Hathaway Toyota of Richardson and Berkshire Hathaway Vandergriff Chevrolet.
The presentation was held at the NABC Lone Star “Pars for Cars Golf Fundraiser” held at the Texas Star Golf Course in Euless, Texas.
“What an honor to partner with these insurance carriers, collision repair facilities and vendors to refurbish these vehicles for these very deserving recipients,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of the National Auto Body Council. “Each recipient has made a tremendous commitment to changing and improving their lives, and, on behalf of the collision repair industry, want to do the same for them by providing them reliable transportation.”
The recipients included:
Retired MSGT James Marquis, who served more than 25 years, primarily with the 136th Air National Guard Security Forces, will receive a 2018 Hyundai Elantra that was donated by GEICO and repaired by Caliber Collision Frisco. Marquis was nominated by the Air Power Foundation for his service to his country and help assist in his desire to return to college and provide support services for other veterans in need.
“I’m speechless, I’ve just been speechless the whole day,” said Marquis. “Everybody behind this – the people, the volunteers – it’s just an amazing organization.”
Josephina Garcia, wife and mother of two, will be presented a 2014 Kia Optima that was donated by Allstate and repaired by Service King Euless. She was nominated by the Trinity River Mission for her and her family’s need for transportation for work and school.
Jasmine Jones, a mother of three, who faced financial difficulties after a severe car accident, was nominated by Family Promise of Irving for her commitment to work through her challenges and return to a stable life. She will receive a 2011 Toyota Camry that was donated by Farmers Insurance and repaired by Berkshire Hathaway Toyota of Richardson.
Krystal Calhoun, a mother of two young children, will receive a 2014 Hyundai Elantra that was donated by State Farm and repaired by Berkshire Hathaway Vandergriff Collision South. She was nominated by Family Promise of Irving, which is helping her and her family get back on their feet financially with an independent lifestyle.
“This is going to make a big difference in my life,” said Calhoun. “I’ll be able to get back and forth to work on time and won’t have to take a bus and leave an hour-and-a-half early. This will make it much easier to take my kids back and forth to school and go shopping. I’m so appreciative and the car is awesome.”
Additional supporting partners included 3M, AC Towing, AsTech, Auto Creation, Bodyguard, Cowboys Towing, English Color, Freeman Mazda-Hyundai, Gold Team Interiors, Hudson’s Auto Glass, Keystone/LKQ, J B Dent Magic of Arlington, North Texas Detailing, North Texas Tire, PPG, 800 Charity Cars, Vandergriff Chevy and Vandergriff Hyundai.
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 2,000 vehicles valued at more than $36 million.
