NABC® Announces the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501(c)3 Focused on Serving Families in Need, Military Members, Veterans and First Responders

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (December 4, 2023) — The National Auto Body Council® announced today it has formed the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation to support the community involvement and fundraising events of the National Auto Body Council®.

The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, was founded to provide support and assistance to families in need, military members, veterans and first responders. This is delivered through programs such as NABC Recycled Rides®, NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and NABC® Community Impact programs. In 2023, the NABC®, through these programs, presented more than 200 vehicles to families, veterans and military members in need of reliable transportation and provided life-saving education on vehicle rescue techniques to more than 1,500 first responders.

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. The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation allows the NABC® to pursue grants, gifts and donations, which enables the organization to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where NABC® members live and work.

“We’re excited to launch the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation as the next step in the evolution of the National Auto Body Council®,” said Scott Sampley, chairman of the NABC®. “This new foundation will support the mission of the National Auto Body Council® and allow us to expand our programs through grants, corporate gifts and donations. We hope you will join our cause to serve families in need, military members, veterans and first responders in communities throughout the U.S.”

The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation will showcase four premier fundraising events in 2024 – the NABC Changing and Saving Lives Golf Fundraisers and the Inaugural NABC “Ignite the Night” Gala Presented by Caliber.

Through the foundation, all proceeds will benefit families in need, military members, veterans and first responders, and help fulfill the mission of harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities across the country.

NABC also named the board leadership for the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, including:

• Chairman — Don Porter, Internal Business/Industry Consultant, United Recyclers Group
• Treasurer — Alan Scrimager, Senior Lending Officer, Pinnacle Financial Partners
• Secretary — Stacy Bartnik, Industry Relations Manager – Transportation Technologies, Intertek
• Director-at-large — Gerry Poirier, Automotive Industry Consultant, Vector Squared LLC

To learn more, visit changingandsavinglivesfoundation.org

ABOUT THE CHANGING AND SAVING LIVES FOUNDATION

The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation exists to promote a positive impression of and common interest in the automotive repair industry; to improve the quality of life of families in need, veterans, active-duty military, and first responders through support programs and donations; and to give back to enhance communities across the country. The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation is a public benefit corporation and is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and other programs and projects as are described in §§ 170(c)(2)(B), 501(c)(3), 2055(a)(2), and 2522(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or corresponding provisions of any subsequent federal tax laws. For more information, visit www.changingandsavinglivesfoundation.org.

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 3,200 vehicles, provided extrication opportunities for some 5,500 First Responders and is helping educate students and adult drivers in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides®, NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the NABC® Community Impact programs. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC® membership dollars. The National Auto Body Council® is changing the paradigm of how the collision industry works and is viewed. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.