NABC, insurers and collision repairers pull together to gift refurbished cars to vets for transportation and so they can help others in need
Augusta, Mo.—Three U.S. Army Veterans were each presented with a refurbished vehicle to get to work, family appointments and to help others in need. The donations were made possible by the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program along with car donors USAA and GEICO and repair partners Gerber Collision & Glass and Caliber.
The special presentation this month was held as part of the NABC Changing and Saving Lives Golf Fundraiser Presented by Enterprise at Boone Valley Golf Club. Each year, the NABC and its member partners raise funds to support hundreds of NABC Recycled Rides car presentations to those in need, NABC F.R.E.E. education programs for first responders, and NABC Community Impact programs that keep thousands of drivers safe on the road.
The event opened with the presentation of the nation’s colors by the VFW Post #2661 Color Guard and the performance of the National Anthem by NFL Hall of Fame member Jackie Smith. With a crowd of hundreds of collision industry leaders, golfers and community partners.
The three U.S. Army Veterans are:
• Marc Pruter, a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1985 to 1990, received a 2022 Nissan Sentra donated by USAA and refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass of Arnold, Mo. He received the U.S. Army Achievement Medal and the U.S. Army Commendation Medal. He works with the American Legion as an associate department service officer helping other veterans in need. He currently does not have a vehicle, so this gift of transportation will allow him to take other veterans to their medical and benefits appointments.
• Reginald Reese, is a U.S. Army veteran who served his country from 2002 to 2013, with deployments to Honduras, Cuba and Iraq. He received numerous awards and commendations. His service and deployments presented challenges in his personal life and he has fought to overcome them with resilience. Since December, Reginald’s vehicle has been out of commission, further complicating his already challenging circumstances. In the face of this, he established his own security business, which not only provides for him but also allows him to give back to his community by ensuring their safety and security. Reliable transportation would greatly enhance Reginald’s ability to manage and grow his business and alleviate some of the daily stress he faces, allowing him to focus more on his work and community service. He received a 2019 Nissan Sentra donated by GEICO and refurbished by Caliber Collision of Hazelwood, Mo.
Reese said after accepting his new vehicle, “Today has just been an amazing day. I’m at a loss for words, just all the people that came together to make such a special day like this happen for me. I work in the security field, helping children that have been trafficked, and I work with a lot of nonprofits combating human trafficking across the board. A blessing like this has been such a grateful thing to me, just knowing there’s support for veterans. I want to say thank you to all those involved. I’m definitely appreciative and want to thank you all.”
• Willie Tannan served in the U.S. Army from 1978 to 1982, deploying to Korea. After his service, he worked for the city of St. Louis for 35 years. He is a single father with an 11-year-old son. He has faced financial and personal struggles, but is working through them. He just celebrated 31 years of sobriety and is very integrated into the AA community, attending daily meetings and offering support to others. With the gift of a car, he will be able to continue his involvement with AA and also make sure his son is getting to school and extracurricular activities. He received a 2020 Chevy Equinox donated by GEICO and refurbished by Caliber Collision of Hazelwood, Mo.
Tannan said after accepting his new vehicle, “I cannot express the gratitude I have for NABC and all they do for me and the community. This is just an outstanding event.”
Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides program in 2007, members of NABC have donated more than 3,300 vehicles valued at some $47 million. Additional partners in the NABC Recycled Rides presentation include Enterprise, Copart, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Yipes Stripes, Bommarito Automotive Group, Lou Fusz and Clean Machine Detail Shop, among others.
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