PORT CHARLOTTE (July 9, 2025) –- The National Auto Body Council® announced the recipient of the inaugural NABC® Community Partner Award, which recognizes NABC® charitable partners who are doing outstanding work nationally or in their local communities.
The recipient is the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, based in Pittsburgh, PA. The vision of Veterans Leadership Program is that every veteran of the United States Military reach their fullest potential as citizens of the Nation that they have so proudly served. They serve all who served, regardless of VA eligibility, discharge status or length of service. They have successfully made an impact on over 8,000 Veterans annually in 30 counties across Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. From housing and career development to wellness and supportive services, Veterans Leadership Program is helping Veterans reach their fullest potential.
Veterans Leadership Program was selected for their commitment to serving veterans and their hands-on approach to providing resources and services to help veterans on their path to independence. They have participated in numerous NABC Recycled Rides® presentations, nominating deserving veterans from the Pittsburgh area. They will be participating in several NABC Recycled Rides® events in the coming months. Veterans’ Leadership Program will receive a $500 monetary award from the NABC®.
“We are honored to be recognized by the National Auto Body Council® as the inaugural recipient of the NABC® Community Partner Award. As a non-profit provider of human services, we depend on strong partnerships with like-minded organizations to help us accomplish our mission of empowering Veterans to navigate the transitions of life. We are proud to partner with the National Auto Body Council to provide life-changing services to the Veterans we serve, and I look forward to our continued partnership for years to come,” said Dr. Ben Stahl, CEO, Veterans Leadership Program.
The NABC® Community Partner Award recognizes the charitable organizations or leaders who are working with NABC® programs such as NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) to serve their communities. Criteria for the award include:
- Charity be a registered 501(c)3 serving military members, veterans, individuals or families in need, or first responders
- Charity has participated in either a NABC Recycled Rides® or NABC F.R.E.E.™ event in the last 24 months
- Organizations should be apolitical in nature
- Charity shows exemplary performance in nominating deserving candidates, supporting NABC events and giving back in their communities
Charities can be nominated by collision repair facilities and vehicle donors that have taken part in an NABC event in the past two years, as well as by the NABC® program directors for each program. Nominations open July 7 and nomination forms are available here.
“We were honored to present the inaugural 2024 NABC® Community Partner Award to the Veterans Leadership Program for their work serving veterans in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York,” said Debby Robinson, executive director, National Auto Body Council®. “Serving veterans with reliable transportation is core to our mission, and Veterans Leadership Program is a tremendous partner for us in accomplishing this goal.”
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 the NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) programs. 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.