NABC® Members Allstate and Sun Toyota Donate Refurbished Vehicle to Deserving Tampa U.S. Army Veteran in Need

The NABC Recycled Rides® Presentation Took Place Recently in Holiday, Florida

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL  (August 18, 2024) – A veteran from Tampa experienced a life-changing event–the presentation of a vehicle to provide him the ability to help fellow veterans overcome tough times–thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program along with car donor Allstate and repair partner Sun Toyota Collision Center.

NABC®, Allstate and Sun Toyota presented a fully refurbished 2016 Chevrolet Impala to Norvell Coleman as part of the presentation at Sun Toyota’s Holiday location.

Norvell Coleman was injured during his service in the U.S. Army.  He has devoted himself to being a great support of other veterans within his community. Due to his back injures he was laid off from work for some time. Taking Care of Our Veterans Corp. helped him find work at MacDill Air Force Base, but a lack of reliable transportation has meant he could not work full time. He is hopeful that that will change now, improving life for him and his son. He plans to continue volunteering to help other veterans find housing.

“I was elated,” Norvell Coleman said about receiving the NABC Recycled Rides® vehicle. “This affords me the ability to help others in the veterans community.”

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.

“What an amazing day,” said George Mantzaris, collision center leader for Sun Toyota.  “Being part of the NABC Recycled Rides program  brought life to all of us here. We are truly blessed with the team we have. From our general manager Mark Schols, service director John Lafemina and parts director Tele Freeman to all the teammates at Sun Toyota, we were humbled to be able to participate in this program.

“The joy we brought to Mr. Coleman’s face was priceless,” continued Mantazaria. “We thank Mr. Coleman for his service to our country and wish him all the best and safe travels. Thank you to Allstate , NABC and our amazing team for the work they did on this vehicle. In the everyday business of work and life it is nice to take a step back and give back to someone in need. And if I can speak for the team at Sun Toyota, thank you, NABC, and let’s do this again.”

Additional partners in the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation include Jeff, please include our standard partners in these – Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart,

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.