Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place June 8 at Crash Champions, West Palm Beach, FL
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (June 8, 2026) – On Monday, June 8, a U.S. Army veteran received the gift of a lifetime — the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle as she supports fellow veterans navigating life after their service. The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO and repair partner Crash Champions.
The presentation took place at the Crash Champions location in West Palm Beach, FL. Crash Champions West Palm donates multiple vehicles each year to people in need in their local community.
The recipient was nominated by Hope4Veterans. Hope4Veterans is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and empowering military women—veterans, active duty, National Guard, reservists, and military spouses. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by military women, Hope4Veterans aims to address the rising rates of mental health issues, isolation, and economic instability within this community.
“I’m just so happy and so blessed for this opportunity, thanks to everyone at NABC, GEICO, Crash Champions and all the others who helped make this happen,” said recipient LeSheana Johnson. “This is so incredibly humbling. This gift will not only benefit me, but it will also benefit others I can help like veterans and first responders as I continue with my career as a peer support specialist.”
A 2020 KIA Soul LX, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Crash Champions in West Palm Beach, FL, was presented to LaSheana Johnson. Sheis a U.S. Army and Florida Army National Guard veteran, who cares deeply about supporting fellow veterans as they navigate life after service. Johnson’s desire to help comes from her own experiences with transition, recovery, and rebuilding a sense of purpose. She currently facilitates peer support groups for veterans and provides one-on-one encouragement, especially for those who feel isolated or alone. Johnson has completed care team training through her church and is working toward becoming a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist. She believes that sometimes the most powerful support comes from simply showing up, listening without judgment, and reminding someone they are not alone. She has been several years without a vehicle, and this refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will allow Johnson to continue serving those fellow veterans who served the entire nation.
Additional partners include: 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®.
Crash Champions, also a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has gifted more than 250 vehicles to people 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 3,750 vehicles valued at some $67 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 3,750 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.™).
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.