Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place April 11 in Bakersfield
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 16, 2026) – On April 11, a Bakersfield, CA veteran in need received a beautifully refurbished vehicle after having his own truck stolen two years ago. The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO and repair partner Caliber Collision.
The presentation took place at the Caliber Collision location in Bakersfield as part of its 4th annual car show. The recipient was nominated by the Wounded Heroes Fund. The Wounded Heroes Fund is a service organization for Kern County veterans and their families, dedicated to facilitating healthy transitions through community, support and appreciation.
A 2018 Jeep Wrangler, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Caliber Collision in Bakersfield, was presented to Jeff Magdaleno. Heserved in the United States Marine Corps from 2006-2010. Jeff was recovering from a serious car accident two years ago in which his vehicle was totaled. He had his new truck for only one month before it was stolen while attending a veterans’ event. Since then, he has had to rely on rides from coworkers, friends, or costly rideshares just to get to work and manage daily life. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will allow Jeff to travel to work and give him the freedom which comes with a refurbished vehicle.
GEICO, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than 1,000 vehicles to people and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides®, making it the largest car donor partner of NABC Recycled Rides®.
Caliber Collision, also a Level One partner, has donated more than 600 vehicles to military service members, veterans and other individuals in need of reliable transportation over the last 12 years. All Caliber locations are I-CAR Gold Certified repair facilities.
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 National Auto Body Council® have donated more than 3,750 vehicles valued at some $67 million.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL®
The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,750 vehicles valued at more than $67 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 7,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™). That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC® membership dollars.
The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts and donations allows NABC to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.