DAYTONA BEACH, FL – September 1, 2023 – On Saturday, August 26, a deserving Daytona-area veteran – Nilsson Garcia — experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of a vehicle to provide him independence and the ability to get work – thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program along with car donor GEICO and collision repair partner Daytona Toyota – Certified Collision Center.
NASCAR Racing Experience helped wave the green flag for the event, which took place before the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway that evening. GEICO is a NASCAR Premier Partner, and Toyota is an official partner of Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR Racing Experience, which donated passes for driving school at Daytona International Speedway for Garcia, his mentor from charity partner Soldier’s Angels, as well as the team from GEICO and Daytona Toyota.
NABC®, GEICO and Daytona Toyota – Certified Collision Center presented Garcia with a 2015 Ford Escape. Garcia, who served in the U.S. Army from 1991 – 1995, has been without a vehicle since he had to give it up after losing his job at the beginning of the pandemic. He came to Soldiers’ Angels last year, wanting to serve as a volunteer. He was recruited to serve as an intern for Soldiers’ Angels and has worked extremely hard to meet the internship requirements. He had to either borrow a vehicle or utilize public transportation to get to work.
“This vehicle is such a blessing to me, I’m really just in shock,” said Garcia. “This means the world to me. I just want to be an example for other veterans who are facing challenges that there are people who care and are there to help. Now, I want to pay it forward for someone else.”
For Daytona Toyota – Certified Collision Center, this is their fifth NABC Recycled Rides vehicle.
“We want to be good community partners and give back to those in need,” said Todd Sindel, Collision Center Manager, Daytona Toyota. “To help a veteran like Nilsson get back on the road with reliable transportation and give back to other veterans is our goal. Thank you to our team here at Daytona Toyota for all their hard work refurbishing this vehicle for him. It’s an honor for us all to participate.”
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 NABC Recycled Rides® program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council® have donated more than 3,200 vehicles valued at some $46 million.
Additional partners in the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation include 1-800 Charity Cars and Enterprise.
Nilsson was also honored as the City Furniture Everyday Hero and the vehicle was “unveiled” on the big screen at Exploria Stadium that night during pregame before the Orlando City vs. St. Louis Soccer Game.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL®
The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,200 vehicles, provided extrication opportunities for more than 5,500 First Responders and is helping educate students and adult drivers in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides®, NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the NABC® Drive Out Distraction program. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC® membership dollars. The National Auto Body Council® is changing the paradigm of how the collision industry works and is viewed. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company), the third-largest auto insurer in the U.S., was founded in 1936 and insures more than 27 million vehicles in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, GEICO employs more than 38,000 associates countrywide. GEICO constantly strives to make lives better by protecting people against unexpected events while saving them money and providing an outstanding customer experience. Along with personal auto insurance, commercial auto and personal umbrella coverages are also available. Homeowners, renters, condo, flood, identity theft, term life, and more coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, LLC. Visit geico.com for a quote or to learn more.
Source: National Auto Body Council (NABC)
