MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (February 25, 2026) – On Thursday, February 19, a Denver area veteran in need received a life-changing gift—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle as he continues to care for his family and their health needs. The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO and repair partner Crash Champions.
The presentation took place at the Crash Champions location in Littleton, CO. The recipient was nominated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA offers benefits that can help veterans buy, retain, or modify a home; earn a degree; start a career; stay healthy; and do much more in life after the military.
“Being able to see somebody that’s going through a tough time in life get a helping hand is big,” said Eric Pitt of Crash Champions. “Not a lot of that happens anymore and I feel like this is a good time for us to do that and seeing the smile on his face, and I know his family is going to have big smiles on their faces, just making life a little bit easier.”
A 2021 Buick Encore GX, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Crash Champions, was presented to Zachary Mattick. He is a United States Navy veteran who served on the USS Abraham Lincoln from 2003-2006. Zachary and his family have been facing significant challenges over the past several years, particularly related to the health and well-being of their oldest child. Their 14-year-old has been diagnosed with several developmental delays. Despite years of seeking support, the family is now working with multiple organizations (including RMHS, CO Access Care, and Children’s Hospital) to secure a residential treatment placement. The child has had frequent hospitalizations and requires ongoing daily counseling and behavioral health services. Zachary has taken on the full responsibility of transporting both of his children to and from school and appointments, as his son is unable to ride the school bus. Their situation is further complicated by his wife’s recent cancer surgery and recovery. Without reliable transportation, Zachary struggles to meet the demands of transporting his son to school, counseling, and medical treatment, as well as supporting his wife’s ongoing care needs. Zachary’s resilience shows in his constant advocacy for his family, his commitment to his children’s needs, and his willingness to put his own goals aside to ensure their safety and stability. With the right support, this family has the potential to rebuild and move toward stability and independence. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will provide immediate stability for the family, allowing Zachary to meet these critical responsibilities, reduce the risk of losing their housing voucher due to ongoing disruptions and begin pursuing employment opportunities once their son is placed in residential care.
“This is a blessing and when I found out I was receiving this vehicle, I was in disbelief,” said recipient Zachary Mattick. “I didn’t think I was actually going to get it and here I am sitting in it, so yeah, it is a blessing. That’s the best I can describe it.”
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®.
Crash Champions, also a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has gifted more than 250 vehicles to people and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides®.
Additional partners in this presentation include: Patriot Hall, Enterprise, 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 and provided extrication opportunities for some 6,000 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.