“12 Cars of Christmas” Kicks Off Holiday Season with Car Donations to Three SoCal Families

WHEN     Tuesday, December 10 at 11:00 am     

WHERE    Family Car Show at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital |Hematology/Oncology Clinic

250 E. Caroline Street | San Bernardino, CA

 (LOS ANGELES, CA) –  Three SoCal families with children who are currently undergoing medical treatment at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital will receive keys to newly restored vehicles as part of a statewide “12 Cars of Christmas” car giveaway program from Caliber Collision and GEICO.

Additional cars are also being presented in San Diego, Silicon Valley and Sacramento this holiday season.

The GEICO-donated cars were refurbished by technicians at Caliber Collision Centers who volunteered their personal time to provide families in need with reliable transportation. The three cars to be presented include a 2017 Chevy Cruze, a 2017 Hyundai Elantra and a 2015 Toyota Camry, each fully loaded with a trunkful of surprise gifts for the children.

Without a reliable car of their own, taking care of their children’s frequent medical needs has been challenging for the three SoCal families selected to receive the car donations. Commuting from their home to the hospital via public transportation can take hours in some case  or not a viable option at all.

The three local families receiving cars are:

Ramon and Celina Hernandez whose 2003 pick-up truck with over 170,000 miles is currently their only means of transportation from Twenty-Nine Palms to the hospital in San Bernardino for their 5-year-old son who suffers from a rare disease.

Melisha Nolen a single mother who has had to cancel numerous medical appointments for her son due to lack of transportation.

Victoria Jones’s 13-year-old daughter was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia last year. With a weakened immune system while undergoing strenuous chemotherapy, public transportation is not a viable option.

The car donations from Caliber Collision and GEICO are part of the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides® program in which collision industry companies team up to refurbish and donate cars for those in need.

Over the past seven years, Caliber Collision and its industry partners have donated more than 350 vehicles valued at over $4.5 million to military service members, veterans and others in need of reliable transportation.