A deserving Chicago resident was presented a vehicle to provide her independence and the ability to work, continue to volunteer and help others and take care of her family, thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program, along with car donor Allstate and repair partner Gold Coast Auto Body.
The presentation was held Feb. 16 at the Gold Coast Auto Body location on Division Street in Chicago. The deserving recipient, Lavinia Phillips, was nominated by Family Promise North Shore.
Phillips and her two daughters had housing challenges and were able to move from a shelter to stable housing, which is when Phillips began paying it forward. Besides working and creating a home for her daughters, ages 11 and 13, Phillips volunteers on the local Housing & Homelessness Commission. She also became a case manager serving homeless families in the community. Currently she is a parent advocate at the local school district. The donated vehicle will ensure she is able to work, attend her daughters’ afterschool programs and keep up her volunteer activities to better the community.
“We appreciate the opportunity to assist a community member in need,” said Dominic Martino, president and co-owner of Gold Coast Auto Body. “Our team had a great time refurbishing this vehicle for Ms. Phillips. The best part of this experience was seeing the smile on her face.”
“I am beyond excited,” said Phillips. "I don’t know what to say other than thank you so much to everyone that made this possible."
“Ms. Phillips continues to work full-time to take care of her family and volunteer her time to take care of others,” said Tracy McKeithen, executive director of Family Promise North Shore. “I can’t think of a more deserving recipient for this gift!”
The 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 program in 2007, members of the NABC have donated more than 3,300 vehicles valued at some $47 million.
Additional partners in the presentation included Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services and Copart.
