A wounded U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Illinois received a fully refurbished vehicle on Sept. 11, offering vital transportation for his medical care and family needs, thanks to the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program, vehicle donor GEICO, repair partner Crash Champions, and veteran support organization Warriors SOAR.
The vehicle was presented to retired Cpl. William Sutton during a special event at Crash Champions’ Oak Forest, IL, location. The date marked the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — the very event that inspired Sutton’s enlistment in the Marines.
“Many thanks to NABC, GEICO, Crash Champions and all the partner organizations that worked diligently to deliver a vehicle to a wounded military veteran in need,” said Marty Sloan, executive director of Warriors SOAR. “We appreciate all the personnel who gave their time, talent and mechanical expertise to make a very positive impact in the life of a wounded military veteran.”
Sutton served as a machine gunner in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2006 to 2013. He was severely wounded on Thanksgiving Day in 2010 when he was shot multiple times during active duty. Following his recovery, he was medically retired in 2013. Today, Sutton is a full-time employee of the Dekalb Veterans Association and a father of three, but until now, he lacked access to his own transportation.
The refurbished vehicle from NABC Recycled Rides will allow him to get to his doctor’s appointments and transport his children to their school activities.
GEICO, a Level One partner of the NABC, has donated more than 1,000 vehicles through Recycled Rides, making it the largest single donor to the initiative. Crash Champions, another Level One partner, has repaired more than 250 vehicles.
The NABC Recycled Rides program brings together businesses across the collision repair industry to restore and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need. Since its launch in 2007, the program has donated more than 3,500 vehicles valued at approximately $51 million.
Additional partners supporting the Oak Forest vehicle presentation include Hawk Mazda, LKQ, ATE, Delta Sonic, Copart, Enterprise, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity.
