The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania, based in Pittsburgh, PA, as the recipient of the inaugural NABC Community Partner Award, recognizing charitable partners who are doing outstanding work nationally or in their local communities.
The Veterans Leadership Program was selected for its commitment to serving veterans and its hands-on approach to providing resources and services to help veterans on their path to independence. The organization has participated in numerous NABC Recycled Rides presentations, nominating deserving veterans from the Pittsburgh area, and will be participating in several Recycled Rides events in the coming months.
Veterans Leadership Program will receive a $500 monetary award from the NABC.
The vision of Veterans Leadership Program is for every veteran of the U.S. military to reach their fullest potential as citizens of the nation they have so proudly served. The organization serves all who served, regardless of VA eligibility, discharge status or length of service. It has successfully made an impact on more than 8,000 veterans annually in 30 counties across Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. From housing and career development to wellness and supportive services, Veterans Leadership Program is helping veterans reach their fullest potential.
“We are honored to be recognized by the National Auto Body Council as the inaugural recipient of the NABC Community Partner Award,” said Dr. Ben Stahl, CEO of Veterans Leadership Program. “As a nonprofit provider of human services, we depend on strong partnerships with like-minded organizations to help us accomplish our mission of empowering veterans to navigate the transitions of life. We are proud to partner with the National Auto Body Council to provide life-changing services to the veterans we serve, and I look forward to our continued partnership for years to come.”
The NABC Community Partner Award recognizes the charitable organizations or leaders who are working with programs like NABC Recycled Rides and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.) to serve their communities. Criteria for the award include:
• Charity be a registered 501(c)3 serving military members, veterans, individuals or families in need, or first responders
• Charity has participated in either a NABC Recycled Rides or NABC F.R.E.E. event in the last 24 months
• Organizations should be apolitical in nature
• Charity shows exemplary performance in nominating deserving candidates, supporting NABC events and giving back in their communities
Charities can be nominated by collision repair facilities and vehicle donors that have taken part in an NABC event in the past two years, as well as by the NABC program directors for each program. Nominations for all 2025 NABC awards opened July 7 and nomination forms are available here.
“We were honored to present the inaugural 2024 NABC Community Partner Award to the Veterans Leadership Program for their work serving veterans in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York,” said Debby Robinson, NABC executive director. “Serving veterans with reliable transportation is core to our mission, and Veterans Leadership Program is a tremendous partner for us in accomplishing this goal.”
