NABC® Members GEICO and Joe Hudson Collision Centers Donate a Refurbished Vehicle to a New Orleans Area Man in Need Through the NABC Recycled Rides® Program in Conjunction with the Urban League National Conference

Media Note: Photos from the event available here and video of the presentation available here

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (July 25, 2024)  – On Thursday, July 25, a man from New Orleans experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of  a vehicle to provide him independence as he rebuilds his life – thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program along with car donor GEICO and collision repair partner Joe Hudson Collision. The presentation was held in conjunction with the National Urban League Conference being held in New Orleans. The recipient and the program partners will also be recognized on stage at the National Urban League Conference Community Day on July 27.

The NABC Recycled Rides® program, along with GEICO, which donated the vehicle, Joe Hudson Collision Center-Prairieville, whose technicians fully refurbished the vehicle, joined together to present a 2020 Hyundai Elantra to New Orleans resident Issac Jones. Jones was nominated by the Urban League of Louisiana.

“We are proud to partner again with the Urban League of Louisiana to present a vehicle to a deserving Louisiana recipient,” said Debby Robinson, executive director of the National Auto Body Council. “Thank you to GEICO and GEICO Cares, which is a partner with the National Urban League Conference, along with our repair partner Joe Hudson Collision Centers – Prairieville, for making this possible. Congratulations to Issac Jones on new vehicle and his progress on his path to independence.”

Isaac Jones‘ journey to rebuilding his life is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) workforce program. At 45, Isaac enrolled in the Urban League of Louisiana’s (ULLA) Pathway Home 3 Adult Re-entry Program. After release from prison, Jones encountered the challenges of workforce re-entry, and his path to employment was filled with uncertainty. His job as an overnight stocker kept him afloat but barely. The Urban League workforce program has been a beacon of hope for him.  Jones completed Urban League’s four-week Career & Workforce Fundamentals training, where he honed vital soft skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving in a work-simulated environment. While in the program Jones earned his CDL credential and was connected to employment, and now is currently employed as a CDL driver. Jones currently resides with his mother, who has helped him with transportation because his 2009 Nissan Altima is in need of engine repair, brakes, and a muffler. The car donation addresses Jones’ immediate transportation needs and symbolizes a fresh start and a new chapter in his life.

“This car will really help me  on my path to independence,” said Issac Jones. “I really appreciate it and what I’ll be able to do with this gift. Thank you to everyone for helping me. With this car, I don’t have to depend on other people for help and can start helping others. God bless you all.”

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 INA Towing, which donated a multi-state tow for the vehicle to be gifted, Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services, Copart 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.