Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place April 17 at the CARSTAR in Tulsa, OK
MEDIA NOTE: Photos and video from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 17, 2026) – On Friday, April 17, a Tulsa, OK, area veteran in need received the gift of a lifetime – a refurbished vehicle to help him in caring for his family and fellow veterans. The donation was made possible by vehicle donor Farmers Insurance and repair partner CARSTAR, part of the Driven Brands of automotive brands.
The presentation took place at CARSTAR Tulsa-Mingo Valley in Tulsa, OK. The recipient was nominated by Oklahoma Veterans United. Oklahoma Veterans United is built on an 80+ year legacy of bringing our community together to research, plan, coordinate action and assess progress to address some of Oklahoma’s most critical social service, health, education and civic challenges.
“When I got here today, I got to hear about everything that went into my vehicle and you can tell that [CARSTAR Tulsa] put a lot into it and is proud of their work,” said recipient Mark Bauer. “I hear ‘Thank you for your service’ a lot, [but instead] Jill said, ‘Come on let’s get you [taken care of]’ and Mike said, ‘I’m glad to do a good job’ and I know that’s how everyone [at CARSTAR] feels, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I love my country, and today, my country loved me.”
A 2021 Toyota Camry, donated by Farmers and refurbished by the technicians at CARSTAR Tulsa-Mingo Valley, was presented to Mark Bauer. Heis a devoted father to his son and served his country honorably in the armed forces. Mark has devoted his life to serving his country in combat. He is a good money manager however, it has been difficult for him to save for a car as he takes care of his family, pays his rent, utilities, and gives back to other veterans. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will alleviate the stress of not having a reliable vehicle and will allow him to continue his work in the community.
“Mark served this country, and the least we can do is make sure he’s got reliable transportation to get where he needs to go,” said Randy Petty of CARSTAR Tulsa-Mingo Valley. “When the NABC Recycled Rides®program and Oklahoma Veterans United brought his name to us, it wasn’t a hard decision. This is exactly why we do this work. Not just to fix cars, but to take care of the people in our community who’ve given so much. We’re honored.”
Farmers, a level one member of the NABC®, has donated numerous vehicles to people and organizations in need through NABC Recycled Rides®.
CARSTAR is part of the Driven Brands family of automotive brands, a level one NABC member, and is an I-CAR Gold Certified network.
Additional partners in this presentation include: LKQ, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Discount Tires, BASF, Jim Norton Toyota, Urban Auto/Lawn Repair, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise
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 3,750 vehicles valued at more than $67 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.™).
TheNABC 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/ .