The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced that 72 vehicle were gifted to families and service organizations across the U.S. as part of the 2009 Recycled Rides initiative.
Recycled Rides is a community awareness project whereby members of the NABC repair and donate refurbished vehicles to be donated across the country. Body shops, insurers, paint suppliers and parts vendors work together to make the project happen.
This year’s program was given a boost from “market champions” – repairers who participated last year and challenged competitors to join this year’s Recycled Rides, NABC says.
The first market champion of 2009 is Bob Schubert of Impact Auto Body in Mesa, Ariz. After gifting a single vehicle to the local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) group in last year’s program, Schubert recruited other body shops in a statewide effort to assist five DAV chapters this year. In addition to adorning the vehicles with large green bows – a Recycled Rides tradition – the vehicles were furnished with patriotic wraps and presented at the Arizona state capitol.
The second market champion is Joseph Amodei of 112 Automotive in Patchogue, New York. After contributing a single vehicle in 2008, Amodei and his competitors gifted six vehicles to military families recommended by the Suffolk County Veterans Services.
“We’re proud of all Recycled Rides participants and the positive impact they are having in the markets in which they operate,” said Michael Quinn of 911 Collision Centers and Recycled Rides chair. “We’re hopeful that others in our profession find inspiration in their good acts and take part in making Recycled Rides 2010 our most successful to date.”
In addition to Schubert and Amodei, several other repair facilities refurbished multiple vehicles, including:
• Bakers Collision Repair Specialists of Mansfield, Ohio
• CARSTAR
• Collision Authority of Las Vegas, Nev.
• Collex Collision Experts of Detroit, Mich., and Naples, Fla.
• Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists
• Cooks Collision Centers of Roseville, Calif.
• FIX Auto of Southern California, Portland, Ore., and Northern California
• Precision Auto Body of Beaverton, Ore.
• Sterling Auto Body Centers
• 911 Collision Centers of Scottsdale and Tucson, Ariz., and Las Vegas, Nev.
“To be present for a vehicle giveaway ceremony is an unforgettable and humbling experience,” Quinn said. “We challenge all repair facilities, trade associations, insurers and parts and material vendors to get involved with Recycled Rides and join the NABC in changing the image of our industry.”
More information:
• National Auto Body Council
