Two deserving Dallas veterans recently 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 (NABC) Recycled Rides program, along with car donors State Farm and Allstate and collision repair partners Gerber and Service King. The presentations were originally scheduled as part of the NABC Pars for Cars Golf Fundraiser in Dallas but were postponed due to the pandemic.
“As we return to our new normal way of life, we are excited to restart our scheduled presentations to deserving recipients around the country, albeit in a safe, socially distanced manner following all local requirements,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of the NABC. “We offer a ‘thank you’ to these veterans for their service, and congratulations on their new vehicles. We also offer our sincere appreciation to our insurance and collision repair partners on this project, as well as those around the country who have a number of NABC Recycled Rides projects in queue. We are all ready to get back to our mission of changing and saving lives every day.”
The recipients included:
- Perzell Hudson, Jr., who received a 2013 Ford Fusion that was donated by Allstate and repaired by Service King in North Richland Hills, Texas. Axalta and Safelite also contributed to the repair. Hudson joined the Air Force in 1987, where he concentrated in the fields of HVAC and graphics. While in uniform, he was deployed to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq. He retired after 21 years of honorable military service and now spends his time giving back to the homeless veterans in his community. This vehicle will allow him the freedom to provide support to his military family, visit his own beloved family in Mississippi and give him the reliable transportation he desired for future employment. Hudson was selected by Allies in Service.
- Tammy Wierl, who received a 2013 Hyundai Sonata that will provide reliable transportation to her new job. The vehicle was donated by State Farm and repaired by Gerber Collision in Dallas, Texas. Wierl, an Air Force veteran, had a prestigious military career with assignments in places like Las Vegas, Germany, Washington D.C., and even Turkey. She never thought she would spend more than four years in the military, but ended up making it a career. She earned a top secret security clearance and even had the chance to meet Colin Powell. She left the military to take care of ill family members, and found the transition to civilian life challenging. Through Allies in Service, which nominated her for the program, she was able to develop a resume and secure a position with a promising future.
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 program in 2007, NABC members have donated more than 2,500 vehicles valued at more than $36 million.
Additional partners in the NABC Recycled Rides presentation included 1-800 Charity Cars.
