NABC® Honors Veterans at Special NABC Recycled Rides® Event Presented by PPG at the NASCAR Hall of Fame During Military Appreciation Month

NABC® Joins Members PPG, GEICO and Classic Collision to Donate Refurbished Vehicle to Two Deserving Charlotte-Area U.S. Army Veterans

Photos and Video from the Presentation Available Here

CHARLOTTE, NC (May 24, 2024) – On Thursday, May 23, two U. S. Army veterans experienced a life-changing event as part of a special NABC® veterans celebration presented by PPG during Military Appreciation Month. The veterans and their families were presented vehicles to provide them independence and continue their journey – thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program along with presenting partner PPG, car donor GEICO and collision repair partner Classic Collision.

The event was held at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, home of one of the biggest weekends in racing – the Coca-Cola 600 – to honor Military Appreciation Month. Legendary NASCAR crew chief Jeff Hammond was the emcee of the event and brought his distinctive NASCAR style to the event.

“We are proud to help provide vehicles to these two deserving veteran families,” said Tom Wolf, NABC board member and strategic accounts director, USCA, for PPG. “We have a long history in motorsports and in giving back to our military members, so it is an honor to present these vehicles during Military Appreciation Month.”

“Family and community are key foundations here at Classic Collision,” said Kayla Clark, VP of Business Development for Classic Collision. “With Memorial Day weekend, we felt there was no better way to celebrate and give back to those who sacrificed and served our country than honoring these two deserving veterans and their families by presenting the gift of reliable transportation to get them back to their everyday lives. We appreciate NABC Recycled Rides and all the partnerships that made these giftings possible.”

The two deserving veteran families were selected by Veterans Bridge Homes, which provides housing, job and financial support to veterans in North and South Carolina.

• Ramir Maldonado, who received a 2019 Toyota Corolla, served in the U.S. Army. He has a young family with his wife. Since his service, he has been challenged with panic attacks. He is attending school at Fayetteville Tech, but the panic attacks have made it difficult to concentrate in class. He was considering quitting school, but the team from Veterans’ Bridge Homes and their partners stepped in to help. Since then, he is feeling better and his professors have noticed an improvement. During this time, he was driving an unreliable vehicle and he does not have the funds to buy a new car. This caused him additional concern. He has never given up on himself or his wife as they continue to move forward through difficult situations. He has been proactive with counseling and meditations. Having a reliable car that he can use to go to school and care for his wife and family will provide him independence and confidence to continue to move forward.

“This car is a miracle, an absolute miracle,” said Maldonado. “I am so grateful. To me, this means keep moving forward as I work to complete my degree in cyber security and take care of my family.?

• Ehab Elmenshawi, who was presented a 2019 Toyota Camry,served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2025, and deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and Army Service Ribbon. Ehab is 100 percent disabled from his service so has frequent medical appointments. His wife is pregnant and due soon, so the lack of a vehicle is a challenge for both of them. The gift of reliable transportation will allow Ehab to care for his growing family.

“I’m out of words. What a wonderful gift for me and my wife,” said Elmenshawi. “It is perfect timing as we are expecting a little one soon. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. It’s a great gift. I am speechless.”

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 3,300 vehicles valued at some $47 million.

Additional partners in the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation include PPG, LKQ, Keystone, INA Towing Network, Modern Parts Center, Black’s Tire, Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services, MCATEER Towing Services, and Enterprise.

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 3,300 vehicles and provided extrication opportunities for some 5,500 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides®, NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the NABC® Community Impact program. 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.