Decker enlisted in the U.S. Army when she was 19, not long after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, and served in several tours of duty. Even after leaving the Army, and to continue to serve, she deployed to Qatar and to Iraq as a government contractor, linguist/site manager. When she returned to West Virginia, for the past two years, she has been volunteering at the Veterans Center in Henlawson, West Virginia, which combines four nonprofit veteran service organizations (VSOs), serving five counties with a population of more than 8,000. As a veterans resource officer, Decker administratively supports the four VSOs, provides information and resources for veterans and their families, and acts as a community liaison.
The 2022 Keys to Progress vehicle giveaway honors veterans in every state across the country with personal and commercial vehicles. Progressive worked with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to locate certified vehicles from Enterprise’s U.S. fleet of high-quality, late-model used cars, vans and SUVs that could be purchased and given away with funds provided by Progressive. The vehicles, with six months of insurance paid for by Enterprise, are being delivered to veterans today, bringing the total number of donated vehicles through the Keys to Progress program to more than 900 since 2013.
“As we celebrate this ten-year milestone, it is humbling to see the impact this program has made since its inception,” said Tricia Griffith, CEO at Progressive. “Our Keys to Progress vehicle giveaway program is just one way we celebrate our nation’s veterans at Progressive, and we are so proud to be able to help veterans who have given so much for this country. We look forward to continuing to do this program for many years to support our commitment to our service men and women.”
“The Bill Noe Flight School is pleased to host this event,” said Dr. David Pittenger, a member of Marshall’s faculty who also works with the flight school. “We are working to serve the community and are acting as a good neighbor in our community. Our participation is to honor a person who served with distinction in the armed services and continues to serve by helping fellow veterans.”
Progressive’s Keys to Progress giveaway program is a reality thanks to the assistance of the following organizations:
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car locates certified vehicles from their U.S. fleet of high-quality, late-model used cars, vans, and SUVs for purchase to be given away with funds from Progressive. Enterprise also funds the first six months of insurance for the vehicles. Policies are written by Progressive.
- Veracity Research Co. Investigations, a veteran-owned and operated organization, helps support the recipient selection process each year.
- Insurance Auto Auctions Inc. provides a 12-month powertrain protection plan for the vehicles.
- The Original 1-800-Charity Cars, provides resources to facilitate the vehicle donations, as well as titling and registration of some vehicles for recipients.
- Local charities, which help to identify veteran recipients in each region.
“The evolution of this program, including the expansion of gifting commercial vehicles to veteran-focused organizations and nonprofits, has allowed hundreds of our veterans facing tough circumstances a little relief – whether that is a personal vehicle to help them get where they need to go, or a commercial vehicle to support their small business,” said John Murphy, Progressive Claims president. “We know that for many veterans, transportation to work, school, medical appointments or even social events is not always accessible, and we are honored to provide them with reliable transportation so they can live the lives they deserve.”
Interested in applying to be a future recipient? Veterans need to be sponsored by a veteran-friendly, nonprofit organization to submit their request. If unfamiliar with an organization, veterans can visit VA.gov to find a local veteran office or contact their local VFW post. Applications are reviewed starting in May of each program year. For more information on the Keys to Progress veteran vehicle giveaway program, visit KeysToProgress.com or search #KeysToProgress on social media.
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Photo attached: Veteran Donna Decker gets acquainted with the vehicle she received today through the Progressive Insurance Keys to Progress program.
More photos at https://muphotos.marshall.edu/Events/Aviation-School/111022-Keys-to-Progress/.