U.S. Army veteran David Quintano received a life-changing gift on May 21, a fully refurbished 2018 Hyundai Elantra, thanks to a collaborative donation effort through the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program.
The presentation, held at the Westin Hotel in Sarasota, FL, was sponsored by the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) as part of its annual Business Conference. The donation was made possible by NABC Recycled Rides partners Nationwide, which donated the vehicle, Crash Champions, whose technicians restored it, and SRQ Vets, which nominated Quintano.
“It’s going to change my life,” Quintano said during the presentation. “I’m not big on words, but thank you, thank you, thank you to NABC, Nationwide, Crash Champions and SRQ Vets.”
Quintano’s journey has been marked by resilience. Raised in a single-parent household, he overcame early involvement with gangs, joined the U.S. Army, and later became a paramedic in New York City before relocating to Florida. Following his mother’s death in 2023 and subsequent homelessness, he found support through the Salvation Army and is now employed as a 911 dispatcher.
The donation is part of NABC’s initiative to provide reliable transportation to individuals in need. Since 2007, the Recycled Rides program has donated more than 3,500 vehicles, collectively valued at more than $51 million.
Crash Champions, one of the program’s top partners, has contributed nearly 250 refurbished vehicles to individuals and charitable causes. The company operates more than 650 I-CAR Gold Class-certified locations nationwide. Nationwide, another leading NABC partner, has donated numerous vehicles through the program as part of its corporate responsibility efforts.
ABPA, a longtime NABC member, has included Recycled Rides presentations in its annual conferences as part of its commitment to supporting the collision repair industry and communities it serves. The organization advocates for quality replacement parts and sustainable growth for its members.
SRQ Vets, which nominated Quintano, has been supporting veterans in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 2015, offering services such as car donations, mobility ramps and utility assistance to help veterans regain stability.
Other partners supporting this vehicle donation included Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise.
