PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (October 28, 2025) – On Saturday, October 25, two United States service members received life-changing gifts at the Sky Ball event in Arlington, TX—the donation of two beautifully refurbished vehicles to help as they continue with their military duties. The donations were made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO and repair partner Caliber Collision.
The presentation, sponsored by the Airpower Foundation, took place at Globe Life Field as part of the annual Sky Ball event. Sky Ball is the nation’s premier military support gala, celebrating 250 years of excellence for the United States Army, Marine Corps and Navy.
The recipients were nominated by the Airpower Foundation. The Airpower Foundation provides support for programs that meet the unique needs of active duty, reserve, National Guard service members, veterans and their families.
Flaveya King has been a member of the United States Navy since 2022 and has consistently prioritized her family and her duties to the military. When she first joined the military, she lived in New York where public transportation made owning a vehicle unnecessary. King’s family soon joined her in Texas. She and her husband have had to coordinate opposite work shifts to each utilize the single vehicle. King’s command has been understanding, but continued absences or scheduling conflicts due to transportation issues could jeopardize her standing and career progression. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will directly impact King and her family’s quality of life and ensure that she can continue serving her country without compromising her family’s well-being.
Julia Caraya has been a member of the United States Navy since 2023 who is looking to continue as she builds a life together with her family. They rely on a single vehicle with over 120,000 miles on it, which has required frequent and costly repairs, including a recent rear unit replacement costing nearly $6,000. Caraya faces significant transportation challenges that directly impacts her livelihood, wellbeing and ability to stay mission ready. While her spouse is mechanically skilled and handles many of the repairs himself, the cost of parts alone continues to strain their already tight budget. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will allow Caraya to focus on her military service and continue on the path of financial stability.
GEICO, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than a thousand vehicles to people and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides, making it the largest car donor partner of NABC Recycled Rides.
Caliber Collision, also a Level One partner, has donated more than 600 vehicles to military service members, veterans and other individuals in need of reliable transportation over the last 12 years. All Caliber locations are 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 3,500 vehicles valued at some $51 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 3,500 vehicles and provided extrication opportunities for some 6,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™). 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.