NABC®, Members Allstate, Certified Collision Group and Oka’s Auto Body of Waipahu, HI., Donate a Refurbished Vehicle to a Woman in Need

Presentation was the First in Hawaii for the NABC® Recycled Rides® Program

Photos available HERE

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (October 20, 2024) – On Thursday, October 10, 2024, a single mother in need experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of  a vehicle to provide her critically needed transportation – thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program, along with car donor Allstate and collision repair partner Oka’s Auto Body of Waipahu, HI. Oka’s Auto Body is a member of the Certified Collision Group (CCG).

Grace Miller, of Kapolei, HI., receives a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee from the NABC® Recycled Rides program

Grace Miller, of Kapolei, HI., received a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was beautifully refurbished by the technicians of Oka’s Auto Body shop. Miller, known as “Mama Grace,” was nominated by Mark Richardson, Campus Pastor Oahu, of the San Diego Rock Church. Richardson said of Miller, “Over the past two years, Mama Grace has experienced multiple vehicle breakdowns, repairs and other issues. Mama Grace was the victim of catalytic converter theft, which has resulted in poor engine performance, increased emissions, high vibrations, and excessively loud noise from her car. The vehicle is not reliable and has resulted in her receiving police and roadside assistance. Good Samaritans have come to her aid on numerous occasions to help Mama Grace during vehicle breakdowns. The cost of repairs is often reduced by obtaining parts from the local junk yard and receiving mechanical service/repairs from a neighbor or a mechanic friend named Ryan. He travels more than 30 miles from the North Shore to assist Mama Grace, often after a day’s work or on his off days. Ryan understands that Mama Grace is not financially able to replace her car. Therefore, he has committed to assisting her until the car is inoperable (or replaced).”

In presenting the completely refurbished vehicle to Miller, Brandon Okahara of Oka’s Collision Centers of Hawaii and a member of the Veteran’s Movement Foundation, said in a statement, “Oka’s Collision Centers of Hawaii has always stayed true to our roots and the belief in giving back to our local community. Our family owned and operated business supports local and lives the life of service to others. With the help of the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program, Allstate, and Copart, we were able to donate a vehicle to Grace Miller to help enrich her life. Thank you, Mama Grace, for your selflessness and humility. We’re all humbled and honored to be able to provide a vehicle to assist you in continuing your journey.”

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.

This donation was made possible with the help of many additional partners who contributed to the NABC® Recycled Rides® presentation, including Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services, New City Nissan, Carquest Auto Parts, Island Concepts, Pacific Honda, Enterprise, Island Fender, Darren’s Tinting, Ace Auto Glass, Techmotive, Cutter Auto.com, Chuck’s Corvette Clinic, and 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.