MEDIA CONTACT:
Dale Ross
651.207.9652
dross@nationalautobodycouncil.org
Presentations Took Place May 18 at the Benedict Castle Concours Car Show in Riverside, CA
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (May 19, 2025) – On Sunday, May 18, two decorated veterans of the United States Marine Corps, each facing difficult challenges, received life-changing gifts—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle to enable each of them to rise above their difficulties. The donations were made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, car donor partner Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club of Southern California and repair partner Seidner’s Collision.
The presentations were made in conjunction with the annual Benedict Castle Concours and Car Show, a wide-ranging show that invites owners of every kind of custom vehicle to put their hobby cars on display.
NABC Recycled Rides®, along with The Interinsurance Exchange, which donated the vehicles, and Seidner’s Collision, whose expert technicians fully refurbished the vehicles, presented a 2019 Kia Forte to Angela Cain, who has overcome challenges of abuse, drugs, and neglect in her childhood. To escape from that environment, Cain joined the U.S. Marine Corps Junior ROTC program in high school and eventually became a Marine. The military gave her a sense of pride and independence. After her service, she faced new struggles: mental health issues, chronic pain, a problematic relationship, and homelessness with her infant daughter. In 2023, Cain found HUD-VASH, a program that helped her secure housing and fresh start. Determined to keep moving forward, she pursued a degree in criminal forensics. The NABC Recycled Ride® will make a huge difference for Angela Cain in being able to attend school and take care of her daughter. Cain was nominated for NABC Recycled Rides by U.S. Vets/Outside the Wire.
NABC, the Interinsurance Exchange and Seidner’s also presented a fully refurbished 2018 Hyundai Sonata to Brandon Jack Lauford, who served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and is utilizing his Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to attend school to get his bachelor’s degree in business administration and to set himself up for a successful career. Jack’s son lives in the Sacramento area, which is a costly 12-hour train ride from his current home, and airfare is unaffordable. Jack’s campus and food services essentially halt during summer, and the nearest grocery store is a long walk. For Jack Lauford, the NABC Recycled Ride® will help ease the burden of everyday living and enable him to see his son more often. Lauford was nominated for the vehicle donation by the Veterans Resource Center at Cordordia University Irvine.
The Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club of Southern California has provided dozens of vehicles for residents of Southern California in need of transportation.
Seidner’s Collision is an I-CAR Gold Certified collision repair center and an active member of the NABC.
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 3,500 vehicles valued at some $51 million.
Additional partners in this presentation included Teen Challenge, Advanced Remarketing Services, Enterprise, Cars for Charity, 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 3,500 vehicles and provided extrication training opportunities for some 6,000 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.
