The joy on the face of active duty U.S. Army SPC Kevin Diaz-Arellano of California was palpable as he received the keys to a shiny, newly refurbished 2018 Honda CR-V.
“This car means the world to me,” Diaz Arellano said, who has been working since he was 12 years old to help out his family. “That’s the reason I joined the military, to support them there."
Until now, though, finding safe, reliable and affordable transportation has been a challenge for Diaz-Arellano. Now that problem is solved thanks to USAA and its partnership with the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program.
Diaz-Arellano was one of 11 military personnel who were gifted cars on September 15 at a ceremony in Charlotte.
“This car means absolutely everything to me,” he said. “I can help my family. I can take my little brother and go somewhere. Take my little sister to school. Just help out my whole family.”
The Charlotte event was the most recent stop on USAA’s nationwide tour, in which the San Antonio-based insurer is donating 100 vehicles to deserving military members in need of transportation The initiative coincides with the 100th anniversary of USAA’s founding in 1922.
The recipients were nominated by various non-profit groups to receive the cars through NABC Recycled Rides, which is administered by the National Auto Body Council. Recipients include both active-duty military personnel and those who have previously served.
NABC member collision repair businesses take cars that were damaged or stolen and makes them roadworthy again, bringing them back to as-new condition. The repairs are done free of charge, and many of the shops also donate gifts with the cars, including toys for the children of the recipients.
The gifted cars are literally changing lives for the better. When you’ve been without a car for seven months, like SPSK Amber Hair, it’s understandable why she threw her arms in the air and let out a hearty cheer as she received the keys to her 2016 Nissan Rogue SL.
“It means peace and freedom,” she said. “I can get to where I need to get to a lot easier as far as doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, and now I can get out of Baltimore and eventually go visit family. It’s an amazing thing, and I’m so grateful.”
“It means a lot,” added Army PRC Cade Wied, who received a 2020 Honda Civic. “I’m so thankful to have this opportunity and get a car and be able to go to work and do other things and enjoy my time now.”
USAA gave away the first of the 100 cars in May and will continue the program through November, wrapping up at its corporate headquarters in San Antonio.
Pratt said all of those involved in the program recognize the benefits of giving back to soldiers who loyally served the United States.
“Our employees and the employees of these shops that support this effort and, of course, working with the NABC to do this, every one of us sees what we’re giving back to the community,” Pratt said.
The NABC and its members have actively embraced the challenge for recycling and gifting the 100 vehicles in conjunction with the USAA.
“We’re almost gifting a vehicle a day at this stage,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of the NABC. “We’re very blessed. We have great partners, and they’re the ones that do all the work, provide the vehicles. We facilitate the way to get this done and get these vehicles into the hands of deserving people.”
NABC member companies are equally enthusiastic about their participation.
Caliber Collision Centers donated three of the 11 vehicles at the Charlotte event and is looking forward to doing more in the future, said Kyle Maciejewski, a regional vice president with the organization.
“We partnered with vendors to donate the parts and the needed supplies,” Maciejewski said. “Most importantly, the teammates donated their time because it’s important to us to impact the veterans and the active military members. They (Caliber facilities) are extremely enthusiastic. In fact, we already have multiple shops asking for the next opportunity.”
Five of the 11 cars donated at Charlotte came from Hendrick Automotive Group, the dealership organization founded by NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick.
“We’ve got a lot of veterans who work for us,” said Dallas Clark, director of collision operations for Hendrick Automotive Group. “Those are the first ones that step up to help. It just touches our hearts. We have very humble teammates wanting to do this.”
Clark said in preparation for the Charlotte event, his team burned the midnight oil finishing one of the cars.
“We had a last-minute car that we had to get done here, and it was kind of like the racing side,” he said. “We had teammates working overnight and pretty much got a vehicle done in two days.”
Kevin Cartwright, vice president of Certified Collision Group, manages that company’s relationship with USAA. He said CCG was glad to be asked to take part in the program.
“We were extremely thrilled and humbled to be part of it, so we jumped right on that opportunity,” Cartwright said. “With the military community, and the fabric of our ownership and our clientele, we just feel that it’s important for us to give back to the cause.”
Prior to partnering with USAA, CARSTAR was already involved with the NABC Recycled Rides program, and now the company is even more active.
“We enjoy participating," said Kevin Silver, body shop director, CARSTAR Jerry Rhynes Collision Repair." It gives us a chance to give back to the community and to some deserving people,” “It’s really true to our hearts and a lot of us feel very special about it.”
For the companies participating in the program, giving back to veterans and military members is more than its own reward.
“I don’t look at it as rewarding, as much as the most humbling thing I’ve ever done,” Garoutte said. “I look at these folks, and I know that many, many folks could be in that position with four or five bad swings at the bat, and they’re in their situation in need of help. We always position this as it’s not as handout, it’s a hand up, and we’re trying to get them back to being active participants in their communities that our collision professionals live and work in.”
“To see the looks on their faces is just amazing,” Cartwright said. “You know you’re truly changing someone’s life. On our team, everybody’s ready to put down what they’re doing to jump in and help because it’s such a noble cause, and we’re able to support our military in a small way but in a way that will be meaningful and change their life.”
“It’s amazing, all the way to the point of seeing a grown man cry,” Silver noted. It’s very emotional, very touching, and that’s really a big part of why we want to do this.”
