RICHMOND, VA — The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced this week that the collision industry helped raise funds for 70 free prostate cancer screenings for patients that may not otherwise have been able to afford them. The total donation, $1,600, was raised over the course of the NABC board meeting and Collision Industry Conference (CIC) that took place on April 10-12 in Atlanta.
NABC executives said the fact that the sum was raised in a relatively short time frame indicates the effectiveness of council’s ongoing “Leave Something Behind” campaign, which is dedicated to producing a tangible, positive impact on localities that host collision industry gatherings. It’s the job of the Leave Something Behind sub-committee to help facilitate this goal. The focus this time was on Atlanta’s Northside Hospital.
“Besides being a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, Northside Hospital has a worthy tradition of providing free screenings to those in need,” said Dan Risley, chairman of the Leave Something Behind sub-committee. “Supporting their efforts seemed a perfect way for us to exemplify the giving spirit of the industry, made all the more resonant by the fact that some of us—including myself—have had loved ones affected by this disease or, in extreme cases, lost a friend or family member to it. The effort also served to raise awareness in attendees that with early detection, the illness can be stopped in its tracks.”
For a $10 donation, those attending the NABC and CIC meetings were offered the chance to guess the amount of jelly beans in a jar. The person coming closest was earmarked to receive $100 of what was collected, with the rest of the money going to the screening program. As it turns out, the winner of the contest, Rod Enlow of the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair (CCAR), immediately donated his share to the cause. In fact, many people in attendance simply elected to donate money without attempting a guess. This included the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, which contributed $500.
“This was definitely a great cause with great results, and our thanks go out to the Leave Something Behind committee, AASP and all our industry peers that came through like the champs they are,” says NABC Executive Director Chuck Sulkala. “The greatest gift is the gift of life, and if we have a beneficial impact on even one person’s health and well-being it will be worth it. It makes me proud and, at the same time, it makes me humble to be involved with the National Auto Body Council and the great industry it represents.”
For more information about NABC, visit: http://www.autobodycouncil.org.
