Collision Repair Industry's 'PRIDE AWARD'

BOSTON, June 26 -- The National Auto Body Council is seeking nominations for its prestigious PRIDE AWARD, given to people who work in the collision industry for their selfless acts of humanitarian service to others.

In the past ten years, when a nomination is being reviewed, a great deal of thought is given how the award recipient's action has helped change lives for the better. One example is a collision shop owner and his wife who funded sending surgeons and support personnel to Costa Rica to treat children with facial deformities.

"Our goal is to find and highlight those individuals from this industry who time after time go way beyond their daily work effort in an attempt to improve the life of others," said Chuck Sulkala, Executive Director. "These are the real people of our industry."

The computer company Vice President who spent one morning every week purchasing food and cooking for a homeless center; an insurance appraiser who spent summers with his family building homes and water systems for a village in the hills of Jamaica; and a shop owner who brought foreign students into her home so that they could study in a comfortable environment. These and other examples, can be found on www.autobodycouncil.org.

"Past Pride Award winners have come from virtually all industry segments; repairers, insurers and suppliers," says Sulkala. "In fact, we believe that some of the best nominations come from people outside the industry who know first hand, the contribution that our industry people have made."

Stacy Bartnik, Chairman of the NABC Pride Award committee stated, "One characteristic of people who do the selfless good is their total lack of need to be recognized for their acts. This makes it all the more important for us to tell the public about these wonderful people. Whether it is Jack Rozint from Santa Barbara, California feeding the homeless, or Doug Connors from Richmond, Virginia going to Guyana with medical and dental supplies, these individuals represent a side of our industry that people rarely hear about. We want that to change."

The National Auto Body Council is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the image of the collision industry. For further information about the Council or its activities, or to get a nomination form call 888-66- PRIDE, Or go on line at www.autobodycouncil.org. The nominations are due by October 1, 2003 and the winners will be recognized in Orlando in December.

EDITORS' ADVISORY: Sulkala is available for additional comment or interview at 617-803-1120. Coverage invited