LAS VEGAS (November 6, 2024) –- The NABC® Awards Committee voted on the candidates for the NABC® Changing and Saving Lives Award, and are proud to announce Henry Arroyo, owner of five Fix Auto USA locations in Southern California, as the recipient for his decades-long commitment to giving back in the community.
Henry Arroyo was raised to appreciate his blessings and give back to those less fortunate. When he founded his collision repair business 30 years ago, at just 24 years old, he had his own two-bay garage doing bumper repairs. His neighbor, a 17-year-old not attending school, seemed to be struggling. Henry decided to hire him, offering guidance and opportunity. That young man is now a manager at a BBQ chain, having gained skills and confidence from his time working with Henry.
That passion for philanthropy was part of his business plan then and today. And when someone asks for help, Henry is always the first to answer the call.
“I love to give back to help children, the homeless, those who are hungry and people who need a hand after challenging situations,” said Arroyo. “I’ve instilled this in our team members and integrated it into our business strategy. We have numerous customers who come to us because they heard about something we did in the community or return to our locations because they appreciate what we do to help others.”
As the business grew, Arroyo felt it was time to give back to the community in more impactful ways. He connected with Martha’s Villas Kitchens, a shelter for domestic violence survivors, and donated a car to a woman in need, filled with toys and clothes for her three children. Seeing their joy and gratitude left a lasting impact on him. From there, Arroyo expanded his efforts, volunteering at shelters, organizing donations of jackets and other items, and bringing food to those in homeless camps.
“One guy just wanted to smell the pizza boxes because he hadn’t had a meal in so long. That moment changed me. I knew I had to keep giving back,” he said.
After joining the Fix Auto USA network in 2014, he found an ideal partner for continuing the support for the communities he serves. Today, Arroyo has Fix Auto USA locations in Cathedral City, Indio, Palm Desert and Palm Springs, CA, serving these cities with the highest-quality collision repair, and a special touch of compassion for the residents in need.
“We’re very proud to present Henry Arroyo with the NABC® Changing and Saving Lives Award for 2024,” said Scott Sampley, chairman of the NABC® Board of Directors. “He truly is a role model for our industry in serving his community and giving back to those in need.”
Arroyo has participated in the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program for a decade through Fix Auto USA, and has gifted a number of vehicles to families in need and veterans over the years. This past January, he again presented a vehicle to a local family at a NABC® event in Palm Springs and celebrated his new store as the 200th in the Fix Auto USA system with a NABC Recycled Ride® presentation to a deserving local student.
“We’ve been doing this for over 12 years now,” said Arroyo. “It isn’t about just one person or one company. It’s about everyone coming together to lift up those in need. Whenever we have a project, our body techs, detailers, and painters are all in. We create a plan and make sure it’s deliverable, even getting local businesses involved. It’s part of who we are. Our team members are inspired to get involved and help those in need. They find it fulfilling. When they experience the rewards of giving back, it changes their lives. They are happy to be part of doing something to benefit the community and our residents.”
During the holidays, Arroyo and his team held a toy drive for local children, and donated 24 bicycles, which they assembled. They also stepped in when Hurricane Hillary struck their area to support relief efforts. Additionally, the team helped their local high school marching band pay their way to march in a national parade in New York with a $1,000 donation and challenged other local businesses to do the same.
Another powerful story was when a man who had just been released from prison for 20 years came to Henry looking for a job. Arroyo started him sweeping floors, and little by little, he learned the ropes.
“I trusted him with the keys to the shop,” he said. “It completely changed his life. My belief in him helped the man secure a new job after his time at the shop, a moment that is one of my proudest.”
Arroyo’s commitment to giving back to the community is inspiring. He has a long history of philanthropy, and he is continuing this legacy and teaching the next generation of collision repair professionals the benefits of helping others in need.
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 valued at $47 million 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. 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 allow 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.
