MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sometimes,
a reliable set of wheels is all that stands between a veteran and their dreams. This month, more than 100 veterans and their
families will be getting the keys to newly-refurbished vehicles as part of The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies' fourth annual Keys to
Progress® event. The vehicle giveaways will take place beginning on November 10 at
63 locations across the country, including Progressive's Service Centers, one-stop facilities where Progressive handles claims and
coordinates repairs for customers.
For Keys to Progress, Progressive works together with local National Auto Body Council (NABC) member body shops to
refurbish and donate vehicles that have been involved or recovered in a claim. They are restored for the veterans as an extension
of the NABC
Recycled Rides™ project. In addition to the National Auto Body Council (NABC) and its body shop members, several other
organizations team up with Progressive to make Keys to Progress a reality, including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Veracity
Research Co. Investigations (VRC), Copart, Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., and 1-800-Charity Cars.
Since the start of Keys to Progress and including this year, Progressive has donated considerable time and resources
to provide more than 400 military families and organizations with reliable transportation so they can get back on the
road faster and move forward in life. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately forty percent of veterans live in rural areas where
transportation options are limited, and where it's necessary for them to travel far to receive medical care, reach employment
centers, and access other services to which they are entitled.
"For many, transportation to work, school, medical appointments or even social events has become a hardship, and we recognized
a need in our communities to provide transportation support to our military men and women," said Mike
Sieger, Claims Group President. "The Keys to Progress program is Progressive's way of supporting our country's heroes,
giving them reliable transportation to live the life they deserve."
This is the fourth year that Progressive teamed up with numerous organizations to make Keys to Progress a
reality:
-
National Auto Body Council member body
shops volunteer staff, resources and thousands of hours of collective time to repair the vehicles free-of-charge to veterans.
-
Enterprise Rent-A-Car provides insurance for each
donated vehicle for the first six months, and also assists families with transportation to the event locations as
needed. The insurance policies are written by Progressive.
-
Veracity Research Co. Investigations (VRC), a
veteran-owned and operated organization, helps support the recipient selection process each year.
- The Original 1-800-Charity Cars, donates
resources to facilitate titling and registration of vehicles for recipients.
-
Copart and Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., national salvage companies we
work with, donate some of the vehicles.
- Local charities help to identify veteran recipients in each region.
Keys to Progress events will take place in the following cities (some cities have multiple locations and will have multiple
vehicles being given away):
- Arizona: Phoenix (Tempe), Tucson
- California: Pasadena, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Bay
Area (Walnut Creek)
- Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver
- Connecticut: Hartford (Newington), New Haven (Milford)
- Florida: Ft. Lauderdale (Tamarac), Jacksonville, Miami,
Orlando (Altamonte Springs), Tampa (Riverview), West Palm Beach
- Georgia: Atlanta (Decatur, Marietta, Norcross)
- Illinois: Chicago
- Indiana: Indianapolis
- Kansas: Kansas City
- Kentucky: Louisville
- Louisiana: Baton Rouge, New Orleans (Metairie)
- Maryland: Baltimore
- Massachusetts: Boston (Westwood)
- Michigan: Detroit (Livonia, Sterling Heights)
- Minnesota: Minneapolis (Burnsville, Coon Rapids)
- Missouri: St. Louis (Bridgeton)
- Nebraska: Omaha (La
Vista)
- Nevada: Las Vegas
- New Jersey: South Plainfield
- New York: Albany, Buffalo, New York (Staten Island)
- Ohio: Akron, Cincinnati (Sharonville), Cleveland
(Mayfield Village, Parma), Columbus, Dayton
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
- Oregon: Portland
- Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia (Malvern)
- Rhode Island: Providence
- Texas: Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth (Arlington), El Paso,
Houston, San Antonio
- Utah: Salt Lake City (Midvale)
- Virginia: Springfield, Virginia Beach
- Washington, D.C. (Silver Spring, MD)
- Washington: King County (Federal Way), Seattle (Lynnwood)
Those interested in submitting an application for next year's Keys to Progress program should go through a veteran-friendly
non-profit organization to submit their request. If unfamiliar with an organization, they also may go to VA.gov to find a local veteran office or contact their local VFW post. Applications are reviewed
starting in May of each program year. To request an application, non-profit organizations may send an email to KeystoProgress@progressive.com. For more information
on Keys to Progress, visit KeysToProgress.com.
About Progressive
The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can
reach it whenever, wherever and however it's most convenient—online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, on a
mobile device or in-person with a local agent.
Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and
homes. Home insurance is underwritten by select carriers, including American Strategic Insurance Corp. and subsidiaries (ASI),
our majority owned subsidiaries.
Progressive is the fourth largest auto insurer in the country; a leading seller of motorcycle and commercial auto insurance; and through ASI, one of
the top 20 homeowners carriers. Progressive also offers car insurance online in Australia at http://www.progressiveonline.com.au.
Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and
money, like Name Your
Price®, Snapshot®,
and Service Centers.
The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding
company, trade publicly at NYSE:PGR.
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SOURCE The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies