Holidays are brighter for active-duty Marine honored with vehicle from American Family Insurance and Gerber Collision & Glass as part of NABC Recycled Rides® program

American Family Insurance and local body shop Gerber Collision & Glass teamed up to provide a special holiday gift – a refurbished vehicle – to an active-duty military member during a presentation December 22 at a UW Badger men’s basketball game in Madison.

U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Bil Altangerel of Madison, Wisconsin, was the recipient of the vehicle donated by American Family Insurance and refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass as part of the national National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program.

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, nonprofit project, organized by the NABC, repairs and donates vehicles to deserving recipients.

Total-loss cars get new life and purpose

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 safety requirements. American Family and Gerber Collison & Glass worked together to identify a military member for this gift. Recipients meet certain requirements such as need, valid driver’s license and ability to insure and maintain the vehicle.

NABC Recycled Rides latest recipient

Lance Corporal Altangerel, is a first-generation immigrant from Mongolia and has proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. He enlisted with a deep sense of gratitude and desire to give back to his adopted country. In 2023, he was honored as Marine of the Year by his Madison-based unit, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, where he currently serves as Infantry Team Leader and Combat Marksmanship Coach.

Altangerel was a special guest at the UW Badger men’s basketball game vs. Detroit Mercy on Sunday, Dec. 22 at the Kohl Center in Madison. During a halftime presentation, American Family Insurance Claims Director Ben Bilkey and agency owner Justin Scanlon, from Gerber Collision & Glass, Dave Griffin, market manager, and Mark Noworatzky, general manager, and from NABC Kristle Bollans, presented Altangerel with a ceremonial key to a completely refurbished 2022 Kia Sportage.

In addition to his military duties, Bil is a dedicated community volunteer, where he participates in many local Marine and VFW events. He is also a recent graduate of UW-Madison with a degree in business administration.

“American Family Insurance has been proud to partner with Gerber Collision & Glass for many years to provide refurbished vehicles through the Recycled Rides Program,” said Bilkey. “Bil is certainly a deserving recipient and we’re grateful to him for his dedicated service to our country as well as the contributions he makes to our community through his volunteer work.”

Altangerel expressed great appreciation for this gift and how the vehicle will have a tremendous positive impact on his life.

American Family Insurance and Gerber Collision & Glass are honored to partner and participate in the NABC Recycled Rides program every year.

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About the American Family Insurance Group 
American Family Insurance Group, a mutual holding company based in Madison, Wis., 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 investments and creative partnerships. American Family Insurance Group is the nation’s 12th-largest property/casualty insurance group, ranking No. 243 on the Fortune 500 list. The Group has a current ‘a+’ credit rating through AM Best, and has distinction as a “Standing the Test of Time” company, which is represented by having an AM Best financial strength rating of ‘A’ or better for 75 years. 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 and has approximately 12,000 employees nationwide.