On Dec. 5, a deserving Ft. Lauderdale, FL, area woman was presented with a vehicle to provide her transportation and independence, thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program along with car donor GEICO and repair partner Gerber Collision & Glass of Ft Lauderdale.
The presentation was held as part of the Boyd Group Leadership Conference at the Diplomat Hotel and Resort in Hollywood, FL. The deserving recipient, Sidney Roland, who received a 2018 Nissan Rogue, was nominated by Compassionate Hearts United Foundation, Inc.
Roland is an individual whose resilience and determination has truly inspired everyone at The Compassionate Hearts United Foundation. Roland has faced unimaginable challenges as a survivor of domestic violence, and her journey to rebuilding her life after a year in an abusive situation has been nothing short of remarkable. The Compassionate Hearts United Foundation joined forces with Roland's mother to provide her with the support, guidance and resources she desperately needed to escape this environment. She has taken steps to rebuild her life, securing employment and striving to achieve a level of self-sufficiency once beyond her reach. A significant barrier to her continued progress, however, was the lack of reliable transportation. This vehicle will be an invaluable asset in helping her fully reclaim her independence and security.
“When I first got nominated for this vehicle it felt like a dream, like it was out of reach, and I would never qualify,” said Roland. “When the Compassionate Hearts Foundation told me I was the recipient, it didn’t feel real until I got here. I didn’t really realize the magnitude and weight of what I’d gone through and where I am today until I was told I was receiving this vehicle. Not having a car has hindered me in making progress in my independence. This is such a huge turning point in my life. Things like this don’t happen to people like me. I am over the moon, beyond happy and so grateful. Thank you everybody so much.”
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, members of the NABC have donated more than 3,200 vehicles valued at some $46 million.
Additional partners in the presentation included Enterprise, Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services and Sublet Works.
