Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place On-Track During NHRA Race Weekend at Route 66 Raceway
MEDIA NOTE: Photos and video from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (May 16, 2026) – On Saturday, May 16, a Chicago area veteran received a gift that could change his life—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle to help further his education and pursue new job opportunities. The donations were made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor Allstate and repair partner Gerber Collision & Glass.
The on-track presentation was hosted by Gerber Collision & Glass, sponsor of the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by Peak.
The recipient was nominated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ mission is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers and survivors.
A 2023 Honda Accord, donated by Allstate and refurbished by the technicians at Gerber Collision & Glass, was presented to Vincent Guzman.
“It’s a huge deal and I just have to say thank you to NABC Recycled Rides®, things like getting to work, the simple things like going to the store, going to family and friends’ events, it’s going to be a life saver,” said recipient Vincent Guzman. “Thank you to everybody involved from Allstate to Gerber, Veterans Affairs, they’ve all been amazing in getting this together and all I can say is thank you.”
Guzman is a veteran of the United States Marine, having served from 2007 – 2011. He was living out of his car after becoming homeless following the loss of his job. Guzman began working for ride share companies to get by but was still not able to afford housing of his own. With assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs, they connected him with the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, who assisted in finding him housing and assisting with initial rent. Unfortunately, shortly after he moved in, the vehicle he had needed repair, but the costs were unaffordable. Guzman was not able to work and that also made searching for other job opportunities difficult due to the lack of transportation. He worked at the Joliet VA Clinic and had to walk several miles in inclement weather. Through the VA, he was able to obtain veterans housing next to the VA Community Outpatient Clinic in Joliet, where he is now working and thriving. This refurbished vehicle from NABC Recycled Rides® will allow Guzman to pursue other employment and educational opportunities.
Allstate, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than 300 vehicles to people and organizations through the NABC Recycled Rides® program, making it one of the largest car donor partners of NABC Recycled Rides®.
Gerber Collision & Glass, a Level One member of the NABC®, was founded in 1937 as a single glass and trim shop and has grown to be one of the largest auto collision and glass repair companies in North America. Gerber Collision & Glass locations are all I-CAR Gold Certified repair facilities.
Additional partners in this presentation include: Omar’s Auto Glass, LKQ, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, Mobile Auto Solutions, CR Towing, Copart, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity.
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.™).
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.
The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation Keys for Change program also helps drive funding for key programs. The easy, efficient donation process allows vehicle owners to turn their unwanted vehicles into life-changing support. All vehicle donations fund critical programs that provide support and assistance for families in need, military members, veterans and first responders.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org.