Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Changing a U.S. Army Veteran’s Life Took Place September 26 at Lumen Field
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (September 29, 2026) – On Saturday, September 26, a United States Army veteran from the Seattle area received a much-needed gift—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle to help him care for his son, as well as his own medical needs. The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor American Family and repair partner Gerber Collision and Glass.
The presentation took place at Lumen Field as part of the Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer match. The recipient was nominated by the Seattle Vet Center. The Seattle Vet Center offers confidential help for veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting to aid in readjusting to civilian life.
A 2023 Honda Odyssey, donated by American Family and refurbished by the technicians at Gerber Collision and Glass, was presented to Brian Pfeffer. He is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Army with service in Iraq and South Korea. While proud of his service, it has left him with several conditions that require a multitude of doctors’ appointments to manage. Right now, his primary focus is to create a new life for him and his son in Washington after having arrived earlier this year. Pfeffer is doing his best as a single father with little in the way of a support network here. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will highly benefit him in supporting both his son’s educational needs and his own medical needs.
Those in the community can support this life-changing program in two ways – donate to the program directly or donate their unwanted or non-running vehicle through the Changing and Saving Lives Keys for Change program. They will receive a tax donation for their contribution, and proceeds will help provide reliable transportation for those in need across the country – and in their community.
Additional partners in this presentation include: Advanced Remarketing Services and Copart.
American Family, a frequent contributor of vehicles to NABC Recycled Rides® program, is committed to improving communities, the environment and the people it serves.
Gerber Collision & Glass, a Level One member of the NABC®, was founded in 1937 as a single glass and trim shop and has grown to be one of the largest auto collision and glass repair companies in North America. Gerber Collision & Glass locations are all I-CAR Gold Certified repair facilities.
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 3,850 vehicles valued at some $69 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 3,850 vehicles valued at nearly $69 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 7,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™).
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.
The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation Keys for Change program also helps drive funding for key programs. The easy, efficient donation process allows vehicle owners to turn their unwanted vehicles into life-changing support. All vehicle donations fund critical programs that provide support and assistance for families in need, military members, veterans and first responders.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org.