Feb. 13, 2012—The National Auto Body Council (NABC) set a goal for its 2012 Recycled Rides program to gift at least one vehicle to a family in need in every U.S. state.
Since the inception of the Recycled Rides program, which is now in its sixth year, NABC-member collision repair facilities have provided hundreds of families and service organizations across the country with transportation, according to the NABC. The organization donated 153 vehicles during the 2011 Recycled Rides program alone.
The NABC said it is refining its marketing approach in an effort to build growth for the Recycled Rides program. This year, in addition to working directly through shops, the NABC will also reach out to individual charities to help them meet their missions, said Jim Ocampo, NABC’s incoming chairman of the Recycled Rides program.
For example, Donna Miller joined the NABC’s Recycled Rides committee to serve as a liaison between the NABC and Family Promise, a charitable organization with 172 affiliates across the U.S. that help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence, according to the NABC.
The NABC said the first 2012 Recycled Rides vehicle has been donated by GEICO Insurance, and is being repaired at Caliber Collision Centers’ Round Rock, Texas, facility. The vehicle will be donated to a Family Promise affiliate in Temple, Texas.
“Caliber Collision is proud to participate again in the Recycled Rides program and in particular to help an organization such as Family Promise in their efforts to serve our communities,” said Rusty Barsanti, vice president of Caliber Collision Centers’ South Texas operations.
“So many of us take our transportation for granted,” said Chuck Sulkala, executive director of the NABC. “But the fact of the matter is, reliable transportation is more important than ever in these tough economic times. A dependable vehicle literally can provide a family a new lease on life.”
All professionals affiliated with the collision repair industry are able to participate with the NABC’s Recycled Rides program. For more information, visit autobodycouncil.org.
