Presentation of the NABC Recycled Rides® Took Place September 30 at CIECA CONNEX 2026 in San Antonio
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (October 1, 2026) – On Wednesday, September 30, two beautifully refurbished vehicles were presented to two San Antonio veterans in need. The donations were made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO and repair partners Caliber Collision and Crash Champions, and was sponsored by the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA).
The presentation took place on September 30 as part of the three-day CIECA CONNEX Conference, which is being held at the Hilton San Antonio Palacio del Rio. Each year, CIECA CONNEX hosts a NABC Recycled Rides® gifting as part of its annual event, to give back to the community in which the conference is held.
The annual CIECA CONNEX Conference is a forum where industry experts and thought leaders discuss emerging automotive technologies, data exchange, software-defined vehicles, and how repairers, insurers, OEMs and other industry stakeholders can keep pace with an ever-changing business environment.
The presentation was kicked off with the presentation of our nation’s colors by the San Antonio Fire Fighters Honor Guard and the Pledge of Allegiance.
A 2020 Toyota CHR, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Caliber New Braunfels, was presented to U.S. Army veteran Paula Peterson, who was nominated by Grace After Fire.
“This vehicle will make a huge difference, the first thing I want to do is find a job,” said recipient Paula Peterson. “Making it to my appointments was a struggle. But God always comes through and all I can say is thank you to everyone that made this happen.”
Peterson is a U.S. Army veteran and single mother who has spent her life fighting, not only for this country, but for the future and safety of her two boys. She immigrated to the United States as a child and learned early that survival required strength. Peterson grew up without stability and became self-reliant by the age of six. Despite these beginnings, she worked hard, served proudly as a combat medic, and believed deeply in the promise of service, belonging, and purpose. Unfortunately, her military career came with life-altering injuries and trauma, that have made it difficult to maintain steady employment. Peterson continues working with organizations and service providers to explore part-time opportunities that fit within her physical limitations so she can help put food on the table for her children. Her children also have medical needs along with her father, which has stretched every resource imaginable and exhausted every option for her. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will give Peterson the ability to regain her independence, earning income through deliveries, accessing food banks, getting to medical appointments, and managing her children’s needs safely.
A 2020 Mazda CX-5, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Crash Champions, was presented to U.S. Army veteran Casey Franklin, who was nominated by HUD-VASH.
“This vehicle means everything to me, it’s such a beautiful blessing,” said recipient Casey Franklin. “This will elevate life for me and my children, and I just can’t wait to show it to our whole family. I want to share all this information with other veterans…so hopefully you’ll see me again with another veteran receiving this blessing.”
Franklin is U.S. Army veteran and a mother of three, who recently moved to Texas to provide a better life for family. She joined the Army at age 18 and served for 12 years. Since the moment Franklin enrolled in the HUD-VASH program, she has demonstrated patience, resiliency, kindness and professionalism. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business and is close to graduating. Franklin strives to do right by her children and receiving this refurbished vehicle through the NABC Recycled Rides® program will provide her the hand up she needs to continue to move forward and provide the best possible life for herself and her family.
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: ATE, IPAC, Dents and Dings, Sun Auto Tire and Service, Unique Auto Steam Detail, Nexus Towing, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise.
GEICO, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than 1,000 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 refurbished more than 600 vehicles for 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.
Crash Champions, also a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has refurbished nearly 300 vehicles for deserving individuals and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides®.
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/ .