The National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program and its charity partner, Family Promise of Orange County, surprised two deserving Southern California families with a car.
The first car, a like-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee, was given to Lauren and her partner, Frankie. Despite working full-time jobs, the couple still struggles to make ends meet living in Orange County with their three young children.
Their vehicle broke down repeatedly, burning through their savings and it still was not reliable and couldn’t pass a smog check.
The cover is removed from a 2014 Jeep Cherokee to be given to Lauren and her family of Orange County by the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and their charity partner Family Promise of Orange County during a presentation ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. The vehicle was donated by Farmers Insurance and repairs donated by Auto Art Collison Specialists.(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren is overcome with emotion and excitement after examining the 2014 Jeep Cherokee her family was presented with by the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and their charity partner Family Promise of Orange County during a presentation ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren, right, reaches back to her daughter Harlow, 3 climbing out from the cargo area as her other daughter, Wisdom, 5, her 4-month-old son Axle, looks back to her daughter Wisdom as they check out the 2014 Jeep Cherokee her family was presented with from the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and charity partner Family Promise of Orange County at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The 2014 Jeep Cherokee that was presented to Lauren and her family by the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and charity partner Family Promise of Orange County during a presentation ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. The vehicle was donated by Farmers Insurance and repairs donated by Auto Art Collison Specialists.(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren, left, and her family, son, Axle, 4 months, partner Frankie and daughter Harlow, 3, reacts after being given a giant key for the 2014 Jeep Cherokee her family was presented with by the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and charity partner Family Promise of Orange County at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren, holding her 4-month-old Axel, reacts after seeing the 2014 Jeep Cherokee her family was presented with by the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and their charity partner Family Promise of Orange County during a presentation ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren, holding her 4-month-old son Axle, looks back to her daughter Wisdom, 5, as they check out the 2014 Jeep Cherokee her family was presented with from the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and charity partner Family Promise of Orange County at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren, holding her 4-month-old son Axel, wipes tears when the resent death of her father was mentioned by Cyndee Albertson of Family Promise of Orange County while speaking about the reasons Lauren was selected to receive a car from the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides, Family Promise of Orange County and other partners during a presentation ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bill Garoutte, CEO of the National Auto Body Council, left, holds Axel, 4 months, son of car recipient Lauren, while she speaks speaks to a gathering of people representing National Auto Body Council, Nationwide and Farmers Insurance, Auto Art Collision Specialists, Mission Viejo Auto Collision and Family Promise of Orange County during a ceremony to donate two refurbished vehicles two deserving Southern California residents during a ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Lauren and her family were given a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren, left, accompanied by Cyndee Albertson, right, of Family Promise of Orange County, becomes emotional as she speaks to a gathering of people representing National Auto Body Council, Nationwide and Farmers Insurance, Auto Art Collision Specialists, Mission Viejo Auto Collision and Family Promise of Orange County during a ceremony to donate two refurbished vehicles two deserving Southern California residents during a ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Lauren and her family were given a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ed Salamy, executive director, Automotive Body Parts Association speaks a gathering of people representing National Auto Body Council, Nationwide and Farmers Insurance, Auto Art Collision Specialists, Mission Viejo Auto Collision and Family Promise of Orange County during a ceremony to donate two refurbished vehicles two deserving Southern California residents during a ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wisdom, 5, right, watches as her dad Frankie puts together new car seats given to the family after being presented with a 2014 Jeep Cherokee by the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and their charity partner Family Promise of Orange County during a presentation ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lauren, left, daughter Harlow, 3, and partner Frankie embrace just before they are presented with a 2014 Jeep Cherokee from the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and charity partner Family Promise of Orange County at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. At the event National Auto Body Council, Nationwide and Farmers Insurance, Auto Art Collision Specialists, Mission Viejo Auto Collision and Family Promise of Orange County donated two refurbished vehicles two deserving Southern California residents during a ceremony at the Hyatt Newport Beach in Newport Beach on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“When I break down on the side of the road with three little kids, it’s really rough,” Lauren said after being presented with the car. She asked not to use her full name. “It feels like a dream and I can’t believe it’s happening to our family.”
The second car, a 2020 Hyundai Elantra, was given to a former stay-at-home mom who is now raising two young boys on her own and trying to restart a career in real estate.
Family Promise of Orange County, which chose the recipients, is also assisting her family by paying for the vehicle registration and at least three month of insurance.
The vehicles presented Wednesday, May 4, were donated by Nationwide and Farmers Insurance and crews from Auto Art Collision Specialists and Mission Viejo Auto Collision donated their time to repair the vehicles. The event was held in Newport Beach during a conference of the Automotive Body Parts Association.
