On Nov. 11 — Veterans Day — 16 Dallas area veterans were presented refurbished vehicles as part of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program’s largest single giveaway to date.
The presentation was made possible by vehicle donors GEICO, Allstate, Farmers, Travelers, Mercury Insurance and Liberty Mutual, and repair partner Texas Collision Centers.
The vehicles were presented at a special Veterans Day event at the Texas Collision Centers location in Plano, TX, attended by Texas State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-8) and Texas State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-67). Plano Mayor the Honorable John Muns was unable to attend but issued a letter of commendation honoring Texas Collison Centers and the NABC for their contributions on Veterans Day.
“This Veterans Day gifting was the largest single gifting that the NABC has ever done and the largest gifting with one repair partner,” said Debby Robinson, executive director of the NABC. “We offer our heartfelt appreciation to Texas Collision Centers for investing their resources and talents to refurbish all 16 of these vehicles for these deserving veterans.”
Texas Collision Centers, which has 18 I-CAR Gold Certified locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, serves its community by partnering with organizations like the NABC to support military personnel, veterans, first responders, educators and neighbors who make a lasting impact in their hometown.
“We are proud to have been involved in such a momentous event honoring our veterans, especially on a day commemorating their service and sacrifice,” said Shyllo Michaelis, chief strategy officer for Texas Collision Centers.
“It has been an amazing experience being here, this has been the biggest gifting I have ever been a part of, let alone seen in person,” said Tara Beckham, vehicle donation program ambassador for GEICO. “Seeing a 16-car gifting, 10 of them being from GEICO, hearing their stories, you can really see how much this will impact their lives and make a difference in their future.”
The recipients included veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force and Army National Guard.
Among the recipients was Marine Corps veteran Ryan Zimmerer, who was injured during a training accident in 2009. He has endured 10 surgeries over the past 16 years, ultimately undergoing a double leg amputation. The father of two received a refurbished and adapted 2020 GMC Sierra that will allow him to share outdoor activities like hunting and fishing with his sons.
“This truck is going to give me freedom again; it’s going to let me get back out in the outdoors to do what I did when I was growing up, and it will also allow me to share my love of the outdoors with my sons,” said Zimmerer.
Another recipient was Dontreal Byars, a mother and active member of the Army National Guard. Her family’s vehicle was totaled, making it a struggle for her to attend National Guard training and her husband to get to work. She received a 2018 Kia Sportage.
“What this vehicle means to me, words can’t even explain it right now and I am truly excited,” said Byars. “This is going to help me get to my doctors’ appointments, it will assist my family with any of their appointments, and I just appreciate the Texas Veterans Commission, as well as the NABC Recycled Rides program. It’s truly been a blessing.”
The other 14 recipients included:
• Bryant Sanders, U.S. Navy, 2018 Nissan Rogue S
• Gabriel Torres Vargas, U.S. Air Force, 2020 Subaru Forester
• Dayunna Sias, U.S. Air Force, 2021 Nissan Rogue SV
• Charles Brown, U.S. Navy, 2023 Ford Escape
• LaCata Jenkins, U.S. Army, 2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude
• Matt Taulauniu, U.S. Army, 2019 Toyota Camry L
• Trey Macaluso, U.S. Army, 2022 Nissan Sentra SV
• Jevon LeBlanc, U.S. Army, 2023 Jeep Renegade Latitude
• Terry Andrews, U.S. Army, 2023 Honda HR-V LX
• Brandon Lockett, U.S. Navy, 2017 Nissan Maxima
• McKinley Mamon, 2024 Chevrolet Malibu
• Robert Silva, U.S. Navy, 2019 Toyota Camry
• Jarion Ervin, U.S. Marine Corps, 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
• Michael Rodriguez, U.S. Navy, 2021 GMC Sierra
