A New Year, A New Car

Monique contacted the Sunny Mike Foundation in September requesting a crib for her five month old baby. As a single mother caring for a newborn, as well as supporting her eleven year old son, Monique warmed our hearts with her kind and industrious spirit. On top of searching for a new job without a vehicle, all while earning her associate’s degree, as well as being on the waitlist for child care, she was finding the pressures to provide for her family understandably difficult. The Sunny Mike Foundation granted her initial request for a crib, but her determination and story moved The Sunny Mike Foundation team so much that we additionally contributed funding so that she could purchase a crib mattress, bedding and clothes for the growing baby.

Monique served in the Army National Guard, Private First Class from 2007- 2017. She was honorably discharged in 2017.  Her greatest memories from her service are the bonds that she formed with her fellow soldiers. These friendships have continued into her civilian life as well.

In order for Monique to travel anywhere with her family, she was relying on Uber to get her to doctor’s appointments, school and even the grocery store, which was very costly. The Sunny Mike Foundation connected her to a program called NABC Recycled Rides ®, which offers deserving veterans across the country much-needed vehicles. Members of the National Auto Body Council (NABC), representing companies in the collision repair industry – Insurers, rental car companies, collision repairers, paint suppliers, parts vendors, etc. – pool their talents and resources to refurbish and donate vehicles to individuals or organizations within their community through NABC Recycled Rides ®.

The Sunny Mike Foundation, through many tears of joy, were honored to watch as Monique and her children were awarded the keys to a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, a gift basket, and a $1000.00 Visa gift card. The Sunny Mike Foundation is so grateful for the teams that made this possible. We would like to thank NABC Recycled Rides ®, Auto Collision & Glass, Northeast GEICO Cares, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and the National Body Council for making this dream come true! We are hopeful that we can continue to partner together with organizations like Recycled Rides to elevate veterans in the future. Monique, thank you for sharing your story with us, and thank you for your service to our country. Your family is so deserving of this opportunity, and we hope that you will enjoy many great journeys in civilian life!

— January 11, 2023