TrueCar, Inc. awarded U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran Leonard "Len" Johnson of Philadelphia, PA, with a new retrofitted vehicle through its DrivenToDrive initiative.
The initiative is made possible in partnership with DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and AutoNation, America's largest automotive retailer.
While serving, Johnson, 74, received multiple shrapnel wounds to his face, legs and feet during a firefight and, as a result, lost the use of his left foot and has limited mobility in his right leg. Following his military career, Johnson has continued to support his fellow veterans as well as his broader community through volunteering.
To honor his bravery and commitment to others, Johnson was presented with a new Chevy Traverse at a TrueCar DrivenToDrive event to help ensure he can continue his important service and volunteer work.
"I'm so grateful to the TrueCar team for selecting me for this honor," said Johnson. "I feel good knowing that I can finally retire my 20-year-old car and continue my service to the community with this donation."
Johnson is a service officer for his local DAV chapter, where he advocates for disabled veterans who are seeking the benefits they earned as a result of their sacrifices. Johnson uses his own vehicle with over 300,000 miles to pick up items from his fellow veterans' homes and deliver them to the local DAV office. He also helps veterans who are incarcerated by assisting them with delegating a portion of their financial benefits to living relatives.
Each year, Johnson also uses his vehicle to drop off toys to the children at his local Catholic Workers Orphanage. For Johnson's bravery and service, he's been recognized with the Purple Heart Award, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Presidential Unit Citation.
"We're honored to have the privilege to celebrate Marine veteran, Lance Corporal Len Johnson, who not only served in Vietnam but continues to serve various communities, including his fellow veterans," said Mike Darrow, president and CEO of TrueCar. "Johnson's continued commitment to service is admirable, and we're thrilled to be able to help him continue his mission by awarding him this new vehicle."
TrueCar's DrivenToDrive initiative was started in 2016, inspired by U.S. Army Ranger and DrivenToDrive ambassador Cory Remsburg, who was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan. The program is designed to honor the sacrifices made by the members who serve and their families by supporting their mobility needs. This marks the eighth consecutive vehicle awarded through the DrivenToDrive program.
"DAV is grateful for our long-standing partnership with TrueCar," said Marc Burgess, DAV CEO. "The DrivenToDrive initiative provides life-changing support for veterans who want to get back behind the wheel and regain their independence and freedom. We appreciate TrueCar's dedication to the veteran community and DAV's mission."
TrueCar teamed up with ACERTUS, an omnichannel automotive logistics platform with the shared commitment of supporting American military veterans, to deliver the vehicle to Johnson's home in Philadelphia.
"AutoNation is pleased to partner with TrueCar on the DrivenToDrive initiative again this year. We're honored to recognize Lance Corporal Len Johnson for his service and present him with a brand-new vehicle," said Marc Cannon, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at AutoNation. "We are proud to support military members and positively impact the lives of disabled veterans."
For more information about DrivenToDrive, its mission, past recipients and ways to get involved, visit www.truecar.com/driventodrive.
Source: TrueCar
Abby Andrews