A leading organization for Connecticut’s youth recently became the beneficiary of a refurbished vehicle to help in their efforts, thanks to the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program.
The 2017 Toyota RAV4 was generously donated by Travelers and repaired by the technicians of Crash Champions. The presentation took place Sept. 16 at the Travelers office in Hartford, CT.
“We’re excited to be here in Hartford today partnering with the NABC Recycled Rides program and Travelers Insurance,” said Chuck Zimmer, vice president of operations, Crash Champions. “It’s exciting for us because we give these vehicles away across the country. Our motto is ‘To Help People in a Time of Need’ and in my opinion there’s not a better way to do that than to give a vehicle away to a charity or person who needs it.”
The organization receiving the vehicle is the Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC), an internationally recognized educational organization started in 1983. Educators use the CIC curriculum to develop creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills through invention and entrepreneurship. The CIC regularly conducts site visits at partnering schools and communities to provide ongoing support and professional development.
The refurbished vehicle from NABC Recycled Rides will make travel significantly easier and allow CIC staff to conduct more in-person site visits while also reducing the associated cost burden faced by staff using their own vehicles. The increased size of this vehicle will allow the CIC to more easily transport supplies to its partners, supporting its directive to provide its in-need partners with the materials necessary to conduct CIC programs.
“This vehicle will allow us to transport supplies to schools and allow our staff to do more outreach and not have to use their own vehicles,” said Dorron Feller, associate director of the CIC. “Thank you to Travelers for your continued support, to Crash Champions, the NABC and everyone that helped make this possible.”
Travelers, a Level One member of the NABC, has donated 85 vehicles to people and organizations in need through Recycled Rides.
Crash Champions, also a Level One partner, has gifted more than 250 vehicles to people and organizations through 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 program in 2007, members of the NABC have donated more than 3,500 vehicles valued at some $51 million.
Additional partners in this presentation included Opus IVS, LKQ, AutoNation Honda in Chandler, Highline Car Care, Smart Calibrations, Glass Now, Akso, Copart, Enterprise, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity.
