Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place April 13 at the PPG MVP Business Solutions™ Conference at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort and Spa
Media Note: Photos and Videos from the presentation available here
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 13, 2026) – On Monday, April 13, a United States Marine Corps veteran from south Texas, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, received a life changing gift — a beautifully refurbished vehicle as he continues to care for his family and regain his independence. The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, event host PPG, vehicle donor Allstate and repair partner Gerber Collision & Glass with special vehicle adaptations by the Freedom Mobility Foundation.
The veteran, Pedro Perez, was nominated by the Freedom Mobility Foundation. Freedom Mobility Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to restore mobility for active military service members, veterans, first responders, and people with physical impairments so that they can freely live their lives to the maximum extent that technology allows.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s truly amazing,” said Perez, a father of three with wife Lucy, who plans to use the vehicle to regain his independence and get back to enjoying the outdoors on the family farm. “This vehicle will truly be life-changing for me and my family. I’m looking forward to getting back out on the road and doing all the things I enjoy.”
Perez is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served his country proudly from 2007 to 2011, having been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He returned from his two tours to civilian life in 2011, continuing a life of service and sacrifice as a police officer in Donna, TX. However, in 2013, Perez was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He had to make the difficult decision to have his leg and part of his pelvis removed. Today he uses crutches, a wheelchair and a powerchair, but he refuses to let that limit him. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program, equipped with a lift, will greatly improve his quality of life by restoring a sense of independence, safety, and access to the world beyond paved roads. For Perez, this vehicle represents freedom, dignity, and the chance to fully experience life again.
Additional partners in this presentation include: PPG, Mobility Works, Glass America, Nexus Towing, Fifth Gear, Copart, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity.
“It is an honor to give back to those who have given so much in service of our country,” said Tom Wolf, Business Development Director, USCA, for PPG, and chairman of the NABC® Board of Directors. “Congratulations to Pedro and his family on their new vehicle. We hope it brings them miles of independence and enjoyment. And thank you to our partners at Allstate, Gerber Collision and Glass and the Freedom Mobility Foundation for making this possible. Together, we are truly changing and saving lives.”
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 vehicle 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.
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.
TheNABC 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 http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org/.