Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place June 3 at American Legion Post 71 in North Augusta, SC
MEDIA NOTE: Photos from the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation are available HERE
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (June 3, 2026) – On Wednesday, June 3, an Augusta, GA veterans’ charity received a gift that can help change lives—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle to assist them in enhancing the quality of life for veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. 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 American Legion, Jesse C Lynch Memorial Post 71 in North Augusta, SC. Established in 1932, this post offers a social club for veterans and features an on-site museum honoring military history.
“We cannot begin to express our deepest gratitude to everyone involved in making this incredible vehicle donation possible, your generosity and support mean more than words can adequately convey,” said WNYHeroes President and Iraq war veteran Chris Kreiger, Sr. “This vehicle will make an immediate impact right here in Georgia, helping our team continue the important work of connecting with veterans, support our service dog teams, and ensure those who have served our nation receive the assistance they deserve. Thanks to all the partners including NABC, Crash Champions and GEICO for believing in our mission and standing beside us as we continue serving those who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
A 2021 KIA Sorento LX, donated by GEICO and refurbished by the technicians at Crash Champions in Grovetown, GA, was presented to Pawsitive for Heroes. “Pawsitive for Heroes” is a program launched in 2013 by the parent organization WNYHeroes. With this program, service dogs are provided to veterans who are in medical need & medically referred through the VA Hospitals. The veteran must have a military service-connected related disability and provide a medical referral at the time of application. Pawsitive for Heroes has also partnered with both county and state correctional facilities around the state of New York. The dogs reside in each facility with the inmates for 10 months where most of their training takes place. After their training, they are then permanently paired with their Veteran handlers. The Veteran and their new service dog will then work at a facility in Western New York (WNY) for another 6-8 months, teaching the veteran hand signals, voice commands, work on public access, restaurant etiquette and more. Receiving a service dog is a big commitment and takes ongoing education and skill. A service dog can go anywhere his/her owner goes. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will assist in the travel that goes along with training these animals and eventually placing them with their veteran.
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/.