Florida Purple Heart Recipient is Gifted Restored Vehicle by Crash Champions and NABC Recycled Rides®

The Crash Champions Collision Repair Team joined industry partners and local charity organizations on Tuesday (Nov. 7) to present a fully restored vehicle to U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Sergeant Javier Torres. 

The ceremonial giveaway was part of Crash Champions’ continual engagement with the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides® program and took place at Crash Champions’ Longwood, Florida collision repair center. 

“We’re honored to present this NABC Recycled Rides® vehicle to U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Javier Torres and his family,” said Debby Robinson, executive director of the National Auto Body Council®. “Javier has valiantly served his country, and now it’s our opportunity to give back to him. Working with the Wounded Warrior Project, we were able to provide him reliable transportation to care for his family and continue his journey to independence. Thank you to Hertz for donating this vehicle and to Crash Champions for refurbishing it.”

Sergeant Torres is a true American hero and a wounded warrior who has selflessly served his country and community with unwavering dedication. As a Purple Heart recipient, he has demonstrated immense bravery and sacrifice. 

The donation was made possible, in part, by certified collision repair technicians from Crash Champions who volunteered their time and expert craftmanship to fully restore the 2021 Chevy Tahoe. The vehicle was donated for the presentation by Hertz.

“We are keenly aware of the tremendous debt of gratitude that we owe our veterans and wounded warrior heroes like Mr. Torres,” said Crash Champions founder and CEO Matt Ebert. “When our team was made aware of the opportunity to take part in this giveaway, we were honored to step up and do our small part for Sergeant Torres and his family.” 

NABC Recycled Rides® is a transformative program that unites several areas of the automotive collision repair industry in pursuit of restoring and donating 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 $46 million.