On Nov. 24, close to 50 collision repair centers nationwide provided transportation for needy families during the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides 2008 Ride Away Day.

The event was the culmination of a year’s worth of efforts by those participating in the community awareness project that gives NABC members the opportunity, working with local charities, to repair and donate recycled vehicles to families in need. Insurers, car rental companies, paint suppliers, parts suppliers and material vendors provide an integral degree of support to the nationwide program.

“I can think of no better example of the holiday spirit than that of our colleagues in all segments of the collision industry cooperating to improve the lives of those less fortunate,” said NABC Executive Director Chuck Sulkala.

In addition to the vehicles given away on Ride Away Day, several others are being delivered before Christmas.
 
The following facilities that participated this year:

112 Automotive, Patchgogue, New York; 911 Collision Centers in Tucson, Ariz., and Las Vegas, Nevada; AJ Collision Repair, Conway, Ark.; ACME Body Paint, Jamaica Plain, Mass.; All Line CARSTAR, Bollingbrook, Ill.; Autobody Hawaii, Kona, Hawaii; Baker’s Collision Repair Specialists, Inc., Mansfield, Ohio; Bodycraft Collision Centers, Roseville, Calif.; Bradshaw Collision Centers, Madison, Tenn.; CARSTAR Northwest, Omaha, Neb.; CARSTAR Wenzl, Lincoln, Neb.; CARSTAR Silver Hammer, Omaha, Neb.; Collision Authority, Las Vegas, Nev.; Collision Centers of America, Chicago, Ill.; Cook’s Collision, Roseville, Calif., and Tracy, Calif.; Danny Myers’ Quality Collision, Tulsa, Ok.; Don  Ron’s CARSTAR, Omaha, Neb.; F. Lofrano Sons, San Francisco, Calif.; Faith Quality Auto Body, Murietta, Calif.; FIX AUTO, Southern California; Gapsch’s CARSTAR, St. Louis, Mo.; Glenn’s CARSTAR, Lincoln, Neb.; Greater Pittsburgh Collision Works, Coraopolis, Pa.; Impact Auto Body, Mesa, Ariz.; Jerry’s Body Shop, Mankato, Minn.; Jordan Road CARSTAR, Centennial, Colo.; Keenan Auto Body, Philadelphia, Pa.; Kirmac Automotive, Auburn, Wash.; Lake Marion Collision, Lakeville, Minn.; Master’s Auto Body, Ruckersville, Va.; Oka’s Auto Body, Waipuha, Hawaii; Pat’s CARSTAR, Plover, Wis.; Raintree Auto Body, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Riverdale Body Shop, Schererville, Ind.; Sterling Autobody, Las Vegas, Nev.; Sterling Autobody, Madison Heights, Mich.; Triangle Collision, Morrisville, North Carolina; Wagonworks Collision Center, Alexandria, Va; Jim Blankenship, Quality Collision, Tulsa, Ok.
 
“The shops and their staffs have been tremendous,” said Troy Holm of Collision Services and Recycled Rides shop coordinator. “I am so proud of our industry.”

Participating vendors include: 3M Corporation, Akzo Nobel, BASF, Collision Services, DuPont Performance Coatings, Fiberglass Evercoat, Greenleaf, LKQ/Keystone, QRP Recycled Parts and Sherwin-Williams.

“We thank all the vendors that participated on a national level,” said Bruce Cooley from DuPont Performance Coatings and coordinator for Recycled Rides parts/materials procurement. “Next year, we hope to gain even more assistance for those shops that will participate in this very worthwhile project.”
 
In addition, the following companies donated vehicles to the program: 21st Century Insurance; AAA Michigan; AAA Northern California, Utah and Nevada (formerly CSAA); AIG; Allstate; California Casualty; Esurance; Farmers; GEICO; Hertz-Rent-A-Car; Liberty Mutual; Met Life Property Casualty; State Farm; and Travelers.

“We would not have been able to move this project forward without the generous donations made by the insurers and Hertz,” said Bill Mayer of Insurance Auto Auctions, who functions as Recycled Rides director of vehicle procurement. “Vehicle donations are the starting point of this project and these companies really came through for us.”
 
In 2009, Recycled Rides will move further toward its goal of ultimately giving away hundreds of recycled vehicles refurbished by hundreds of quality collision repair centers around the nation. More than three dozen shops have already committed to next year’s program, many of them for the second time.

“NABC’s singular mission is to enhance the image of the collision industry,” said NABC Treasurer and Recycled Rides Co-Chair Karen Fierst of KerenOr Consultants. “We hope this program will grow in scope to attract positive media attention to our industry both locally and nationally.”

For more information, visit www.autobodycouncil.org.