On Dec. 6, a deserving Tampa area veteran was presented with a vehicle to provide him transportation and independence, thanks to the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program, along with car donor GEICO and repair partner Ferman Collision Center.
The presentation was held at Ferman Collision Center in Tampa, FL. In front of the backdrop of a huge American flag, provided by Stepp’s Towing, and surrounded by more than 20 veterans for moral support, the deserving veteran, Rick Burton, received a 2020 Honda Civic. Burton was nominated by the Wounded Warrior Project.
Burton, who served in the U.S. Army from 1995 to 2014, is a disabled veteran with a fixed income. He is always finding ways to help other veterans who struggle upon discharge from service. Recently, vehicle repairs have resulted in him losing his means of mobility and transportation. The gift of a reliable vehicle will provide him with the independence he needs.
“Thank you to everyone who made this possible,” said Burton. “With transportation I can rely on, I just want to be able to keep helping others who have gone through similar circumstances and experienced injuries like me."
“It was truly inspiring to see the show of support of Rick from his fellow veterans from Wounded Warriors Project, the Patriot Guard and Golf4Vets,” said Dale Ross, program manager for the NABC Recycled Rides program. “It feels good to help good people, and Rick is that type of person that is always looking to help other veterans.”
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 NABC Recycled Rides 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, Choice Auto Glass, Stepps Towing, Solar Craft, Cars for Charity and Advanced Remarketing Services.
