Veterans Receive Vehicles From American Family Insurance and Gates Collision Centers as Part of Recycled Rides Program

MADISON, Wisconsin, Dec. 22 -- American Family Insurance issued the following news release:

Veterans Kevin Hanrahan of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and Noah and Noel Ash of Madison, were the recipients of vehicles donated by American Family Insurance and refurbished by Gates Collision Centers as part of the national 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, 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.AmFam and Gates Collison Centers worked with the Semper Fi Fund and the UW-Madison Campus Veteran Services and Military Assistance Center to identify local veterans for this gift. Recipients meet certain requirements such as need, valid driver's license and ability to insure and maintain the vehicle.

Recycled Rides veteran recipients

The veterans were special guests at the UW-Madison Badger basketball game on Dec. 13 at the Kohl Center in Madison, where they thought they were there to be honored as "Veterans of the Game." In addition, they were surprised with a video featuring the vehicles they received (see video link below) during a first half timeout. At a second half timeout, American Family Insurance Chief Financial Officer Dan Kelly and Vice President of Claims Tim Constien presented keys to the deserving recipients.

Recipient Kevin Hanrahan served as an infantry machine gunner for more than five years in the U.S. Marine Corp. Following injuries sustained in Afghanistan, he spent nearly three years at Walter Reed Medical Center recovering from his injuries. He was honorably discharged in 2013 and has been awarded numerous military honors, including the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for combat valor and the Armed Forces Service Medal, to name just a few. Kevin resides in Black River Falls with his wife, Whitney, and children, Riley and Cayden. Kevin is currently studying sustainable agriculture and alternative medicine. He was accompanied to the game by his brother, Brendan.

Recipients Noah and Noel Ash are U.S. Army veterans, where they were both stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Both Noah and Noel worked in military intelligence specialties and have been deployed to both the Middle East, Haiti and other locations for various assignments. Noah and Noel are both UW-Madison students; Noah is pursuing his undergraduate degree and Noel is a graduate student. They are also parents of three children, ages 2, 6 and 8.

Both received Ford F-150 trucks.

Watch the video from the first timeout of the men's UW-Madison basketball game (provided by UW-Madison athletics, who partnered with AmFam and Gates on this special event), when Kevin, Noah and Noel were surprised to find out they were Recycled Rides recipients.

American Family Insurance is honored to participate in the Recycled Rides Program and present these vehicle gifts to deserving recipients, including these veterans.