MEDIA CONTACT:
Deborah Robinson
312.505.4336
drobinson@nationalautobodycouncil.org
NABC® Members PPG, Allstate and North Park Collision Center Join Forces with Roger Penske’s Preferred Charity Paralyzed Veterans of America to Present Adaptive Vehicle During the Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 21
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (July 22, 2024) – On Sunday, July 21, a decorated U.S. Army veteran who was paralyzed in a training accident experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of an adaptive vehicle to provide him independence – thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program along with event host PPG, car donor Allstate and collision repair partner North Park Collision Center of San Antonio, Texas. Additional support was provided by partners Paralyzed Veterans of America, Freedom Mobility Foundation, Lockheed Martin, Mobility Works, Burnside Express Collision and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Berry, a NASCAR fan and member of PVA’s Central Florida Chapter, was presented his Chevrolet K1500 on Sunday at on the “Yard of Bricks” by the Pagoda of the legendary track before the Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG. His refurbished Chevrolet K1500 was outfitted with an automatic seating system to transfer into the vehicle, mechanical hand controls and a hoist to lift his wheelchair.
“We are so honored to present this vehicle today to Sgt. Karlton Berry and help restore his independence and ability to care for his family through the gift of reliable transportation,” said Scott Sampley, chairman, NABC Board of Directors. “Thank you to our partners at PPG for hosting this event at this historic racetrack, and to Roger Penske for his support of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Together with all of our partners, we truly are able to change and save lives.”
The partners in the NABC Recycled Rides® gifting included PPG, which was the presenting sponsor for the NABC Recycled Rides® event; Allstate, which donated the vehicle; North Park Collision, San Antonio Texas, who refurbished the vehicle; Lockhead Martin, which funded the vehicle adaptations; Paralyzed Veterans of America, along with Freedom Mobility Foundation, which nominated Sgt. Berry; Freedom Mobility Foundation, which funded the vehicle move and Sgt. Berry’s trip to Indianapolis; Mobility Works, which performed the modifications on the vehicle; and Burnside Express Collision, which provided storage, detailing and transportation to the event.
Staff Sergeant Karlton Berry entered the U.S. Army in 2005 and served for 13 years as an Intelligence Analyst with the National Security Agency. He deployed to Afghanistan for one year and also to Korea. Berry earned the Combat Action Badge, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and Afghanistan and Korea Service Ribbons. He was a drill sergeant at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma for three years before his retirement in 2018. During a rappelling training exercise, Berry was severely injured from a 50-foot fall crushing his spine and became paralyzed. Since his injury, PVA has supported Berry with hunting, fishing, and cycling activities, as well as trap-shooting and learning to kayak. Now a member of PVA’s Central Florida Chapter, Berry is a single parent and father of three, ages 14, 9, and 8.
“This is an unbelievable gift and I am so grateful to all of the people and companies who made it possible,” said Berry. “To be here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and meet some of my racing heroes like Jeff Gordon, who was my favorite driver when I was a kid, Richard Petty, Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney and Mr. Penske was amazing. And to receive such an amazing truck that will provide me freedom and independence and allow me to return to living my life is amazing.”
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.
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.
