Brookland, AR – Contributed – On Wednesday, February 11, an Arkansas National Guardsman will receive a life-changing gift—the donation of a beautifully refurbished vehicle to help Michael Whatley care for his family and serve his community.
The donation was made possible by the NABC Recycled Rides® program, vehicle donor GEICO, and repair partner CARSTAR.
The presentation will take place at CARSTAR – Autocraft Paint & Body Works in Brookland. The recipient was nominated by Hold Fast Collective. The Hold Fast Collective is committed to embracing heritage, tradition, and unit pride by creating certificates that will become a lasting tradition of the unit and the individual’s story.
WHO: The NABC Recycled Rides® program, in partnership with:
- GEICO, which donated the vehicle
- CARSTAR – Autocraft Paint & Body Works, whose technicians refurbished the vehicle
- Recipient Michael Whatley, nominated by the Hold Fast Collective
WHAT: The National Auto Body Council (NABC), GEICO, and CARSTAR, will present a fully refurbished 2020 Nissan Murano S to Michael Whatley.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 11, 11 a.m.
WHERE: CARSTAR – Autocraft Paint & Body Works
60 County Road 9501 N, Brookland
Michael Whatley is currently serving as a Sergeant in the Arkansas Army National Guard. Sgt. Whatley is a decorated combat veteran, a dedicated National Guard soldier, and a single father of two young sons. He served two deployments to Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013 and completed two state active-duty missions in Arkansas responding to natural disasters.
He currently serves as a squad leader, actively mentoring younger soldiers and leading with integrity and steadiness. Whether he’s supporting a community event, mentoring fellow service members, or showing up for his sons, he is committed to serving in every way he can.
Despite working three jobs: full-time at the Arkansas State Highway Department, weekend DJ work, and his National Guard duties, Whatley has faced real hardship. After experiencing homelessness last winter, he secured housing but still lacks reliable transportation. His current vehicle is in disrepair and beyond financial reach to fix, which threatens his ability to maintain employment and continue showing up for those who rely on him.
Gifting a vehicle to Sgt. Whatley would remove a major obstacle from the life of someone who has given his energy, skills, and heart to everyone around him. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program would allow him to continue leading his squad, supporting his family, fulfilling his job responsibilities, and showing up for his community.
It would stabilize his everyday life while expanding his ability to serve. This is not about charity. It’s about equipping someone who has already earned it – someone who doesn’t ask for help easily but gives it freely.
Additional partners in this presentation include: Executive Auto Detailing, Oaks Automotive, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, LKQ, Conway Auto Parts, Economy Auto Parts, Herrin Tires, Premium Recycled Parts, Pratts Auto Parts, ADAS USA, Enterprise, Copart, Advanced Remarketing Services, and Cars for Charity.
GEICO, a Level One partner of the National Auto Body Council®, has donated more than a thousand vehicles to people and organizations through NABC Recycled Rides, making it the largest car donor partner of NABC Recycled Rides.
CARSTAR is part of the Driven Brands family of automotive brands, a level one NABC member, and is an I-CAR Gold Certified network.
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 3,750 vehicles valued at some $67 million.
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 3,750 vehicles valued at more than $67 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 7,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™). That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC® membership dollars.
The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders, and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts, and donations allows NABC to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work.