Retired veteran and Oostburg resident receives vehicle at Lambeau Field from American Family Insurance and Gerber Collision & Glass as part of NABC Recycled Rides® program

American Family Insurance and Gerber Collision & Glass teamed up to provide a refurbished vehicle to an Oostburg, Wisconsin veteran.

Sergeant Amy Fletcher (U.S. Army retired) was the recipient of a vehicle donated by American Family Insurance and refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass as part of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program.

The presentation was made at the October 20 Green Bay Packers “Winter Warning” game presented by American Family. This game featured players and fans wearing white to bring early “whiteout” conditions at their home game at Lambeau Field.

Through the NABC Recycled Rides 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.

NABC Recycled Rides means new life for total-loss vehicles and new transportation for recipients

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 work together with a nonprofit organization to identify a deserving recipient, which often includes military veterans. For this presentation, the recipient was nominated by VetsNet Wisconsin Veterans Network.

Recipients meet certain requirements such as need, valid driver’s license and ability to insure and maintain the vehicle.

NABC Recycled Rides recipient

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Fletcher was a special guest at the Packers vs. Houston Texans game on October. 20. 

Amy was a U.S. Army Sargent serving from 2005 to 2012, including a fourteen- month deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was the recipient of numerous awards, such as the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon. After retiring from the Army, Amy worked assisting veterans across Wisconsin with a variety of different needs and helping them identify resources. She currently works as a care manager, assisting adults with disabilities and seniors in navigating their daily lives. She is s single mother of three children. The refurbished vehicle will ensure Amy has safe transportation for herself and her children.

“We’re very proud to be longtime participants in the NABC Recycled Rides program with our partners Gerber Collision & Glass to provide safe vehicles for deserving recipients,” said American Family Chief Claims Officer Tim Constien. “This beneficial program allows us to assist veterans like Amy with reliable transportation while also showing our appreciation for her service to our country, bravery, and the sacrifices she made during her military career. And today she continues to help some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society as a care manager. We hope she enjoys the reliable transportation this vehicle will provide her and her children.”

Representatives from the participating organizations presented Amy with the keys to a completely refurbished 2018 Chevy Silverado.

In addition to Tim Constien, also taking part in the presentation from American Family was Danny Henderson, claims vice president. Attending from Gerber Collision & Glass were Dennis DeMaio, national accounts manager, and Gary Bunce, senior vice president, sales. Representing NABC was Kristle Bollans.

American Family Insurance has been a partner of the Green Bay Packers since 2005, and just announced a multi-year renewal and expansion of the partnership.

American Family Insurance and Gerber Collision & Glass have been honored to participate in the NABC Recycled Rides program providing vehicle gifts for deserving recipients for more than a decade. 

This is the third NABC Recycled Rides presentation the companies have participated in during 2024. Previous vehicle gifts were presented at a Milwaukee Brewers game at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and at the Colorado Rapids major league soccer game at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. There will be a fourth presentation in December in Madison, Wisconsin at a UW-Madison men’s basketball game.

Captions for photos at top: Amy Fletcher during her military service.
Group photo (left to right at presentation on field and screen: Gary Bunce, Danny Henderson, Kristle Bollans, Amy Fletcher, Tim Constien, Dennis DeMaio.

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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.