U.S. Marine Corps veteran Andrei Popow was recently provided with vehicle to help him in his mission of serving veterans and frontline workers in need thanks to High-Velocity Autobody, Hertz, and the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program.

The presentation of the 2019 Toyota Corolla to Popow, a veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, was held at High-Velocity Autobody in Inwood, NY. Popow, a New York native, was working as a graphic artist prior to 9/11. Following the attack, he then enlisted in the marines and served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He received numerous medals and commendations for his service. 

Upon returning home, Popow found many of his fellow soldiers suffering from pain and depression, and struggling with substance abuse and suicide. He used his GI Bill to enroll at NYU and study nonprofit organizational development, then founded Veterans Rebuilding Life to help veterans in need.

After losing his job to COVID-19 layoffs, he continued his worked delivering PPE to essential workers, even though he didn’t have a vehicle and had to pay for a rental car. The gift of reliable transportation will allow him to expand his service to those in need and continue helping veterans rebuild their lives.

“So much is happening in our world today and so much uncertainty. Like so many people across the world, Andrei’slife was affected by COVID19,” Kristle Bollans, director of replacement accounts for the Hertz Corporation, said in a statement. “I, along with Hertz are so grateful to be able to provide safe and reliable transportation to Andrei as he serves so many in need. He truly is an inspiration.”

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 NABC Recycled Rides program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council have donated more than 2,500 vehicles valued at more than $36 million.