Madison,
19
December
2022
|
11:44 AM
America/Chicago

Catalyst for Change receives vehicle from American Family and Gerber Collision & Glass as part of Recycled Rides program

Summary

American Family Insurance and a local body shop teamed up to present Catalyst for Change with a refurbished truck during a UW-Madison men’s basketball game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Reps from American Family and Gerber Collision & Glass present ceremonial key to Catalyst for Change co-foundersCatalyst for Change, an American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation grant recipient and community partner, was the recipient of a vehicle donated by American Family Insurance and refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass as part of the national Recycled Rides program. John Adams and Michael Moody accepted the vehicle on behalf of the organization they founded.

Catalyst for Change advocates for some of Madison’s most vulnerable citizens, by meeting the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in the community.  

Through this program, American Family partners with local auto body shops to donate vehicles that have been declared a total loss, which could result from a collision, hail damage or other accident. This nationwide, non-profit project, organized by the National Auto Body Council, repairs and donates vehicles to deserving recipients.

Total-loss cars get new life with Recycled Rides

When a car is declared a total loss, American Family pays the customer for the actual cash value of the vehicle before the loss. American Family usually takes possession of the vehicle and can sell it through a salvage vendor. With this program, rather than take the salvage proceeds, American Family donates the vehicles and a local auto body shop donates its services to repair them. Other vendors also offer parts and services. The vehicles are repaired to industry standards and meet state safety requirements.

The American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation identified a local nonprofit organization/community partner for this gift. Recipients meet certain requirements such as need, valid driver’s license and ability to insure and maintain the vehicle.

2022 Recycled Rides recipient

Co-founders John Adams and Michael Moody and other organization members were guests at the UW-Madison Badger basketball game on December 15 at the Kohl Center in Madison, where they were presented with a ceremonial key to the refurbished 2019 Ford F-150 truck during a halftime presentation.

American Family Insurance Vice President of Claims Tim Constien, Claims Director Ben Bilkey, Claims Manager Andrew McCormick and David Ryan-Sukup, agency owner, along with representatives from Gerber Collision & Glass, presented the key to this deserving organization.Pascaly

“We hope the donation of this vehicle will assist Catalyst for Change in providing needed services and resources, and help them continue to have a meaningful and positive impact in our community,” said Maggie Pascaly, American Family office of community and social impact director.

Watch the video from the UW-Madison Badger basketball game presentation December 15 (provided by UW-Madison athletics, who partnered with American Family and Gerber on this special event).

 

American Family Insurance is honored to participate annually in the Recycled Rides Program and present these vehicle gifts to deserving recipients, including community partners like Catalyst for Change.

See Catalyst for Change video included in above presentation.

  

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About the American Family Insurance group  
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, American Family Insurance has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investment and creative partnerships to address societal challenges. We act on our belief in diversity and inclusion by constantly evolving to meet customer needs and preferences. American Family Insurance group is the nation’s 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 251 on the Fortune 500 list. The group sells American Family-brand products, primarily through exclusive agency owners in 19 states. The American Family Insurance group also includes CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance, The General, Homesite and Main Street America Insurance. Across these companies the group has more than 13,000 employees nationwide.

About American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation  
The American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation, Inc. builds on our long-standing commitment and support of communities we serve by offering unrestricted, general operating grants to eligible non-profit partners. We are committed to using trust-based values to create meaningful, impactful relationships and reduce the inherent power imbalances of the traditional funding model. Like many of our community partners, we’re also committed to learning, listening, and changing through collaboration and trust. The Dreams Foundation grant funding priorities are Academic Achievement and Education, Healthy Youth Development, Economic Opportunity, and Community Resiliency. These priorities align with our organizational efforts to invest in and improve the communities where we live and serve. Read more.