Sept. 24, 2015—Able Body Shop, the oldest operating auto body shop in the state of Alaska and owned and by FenderBender editorial advisory board member Ryan Cropper, received a Gold Pan Award from the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce for Distinguished Community Service for their involvement with the King Career Center, the shop announced on Tuesday.
The Anchorage Chamber Gold Pan Awards were established in 1957 as Anchorage’s premier business awards event. For 58 years, Gold Pans have been awarded to businesses that have shown entrepreneurial excellence, as well as a loyal commitment to Anchorage through community service.
Able Body Shop has a long standing relationship with the King Career Center, a program that gives Anchorage’s youth the opportunity to work with experienced professionals in the career of their choice and receive one-on-one training while still in high school.
Cropper has been involved with the King Career Center since 1995. Cropper is also the founder of Empowering Destinations, a non-profit organization that gives away a vehicle once a year to a family in need. In 2015, they were able to give away two vehicles.
