Santee Vet Granted Car In Keys To Progress Veterans Giveaway: 2023

SANTEE, CA — A veteran in the Santee area will receive a new car Wednesday, thanks to the 11th annual Keys to Progress vehicle giveaway, Progressive Insurance announced in a recent news release. A total of 82 veterans, military-related organizations, and veteran-owned small business owners across the country were slated to receive the keys to vehicles that will provide reliable transportation that day, helping them get back on the road and move forward in life, according to Progressive spokesperson Michael Ferrari.

Five veterans and their families in California were slated to receive the donation on Wednesday. Since 2013, 65 veterans in the Golden State have earned this honor from six different branches of government, according to the Keys to Progress team.

Progressive worked with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to locate certified vehicles from Enterprise's U.S. fleet of high-quality, used cars, vans, and SUVs that could be purchased and given away with funds provided by Progressive, the release reads. The veterans will receive the vehicles and six months of insurance paid for by Enterprise.

Over 1,000 vehicles have been donated through the Keys to Progress program since 2013.

Tricia Griffith, CEO at Progressive, shared their enthusiasm for supporting the nation's veterans.

"As we enter our 11th year of the Keys to Progress program, it is exciting to celebrate another significant milestone, having now provided over 1,000 vehicles and impacting the lives of so many veterans and their families," Griffith said in a prepared statement. "At its core, the Keys to Progress vehicle giveaway program is just one way we celebrate our nation's veterans, and these events are a strong source of pride for everyone who works at Progressive."

The 2023 Keys to Progress vehicle giveaway honors veterans nationwide with personal and commercial vehicles. This year's events will take place in the following cities:

• Pasadena, CA
• Sacramento, CA
• Santee, CA

According to the release, some cities will host multiple events and give away more than one vehicle.

John Murphy, Progressive Claims President, shared his thoughts on the day.

"Throughout the years, the Keys to Progress program has provided reliable transportation to veterans and veteran organizations. Our hope is to offer a little relief and improve the lives of military men and women facing tough personal circumstances," Murphy said in his prepared statement. "We're grateful to be able to help those who have given so much for our country and look forward to continuing the program for years to come."

To apply as a future potential recipient, veterans need to be sponsored by a veteran-friendly, non-profit organization to submit their request.

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.

A statement on the program, shared on Progressive's website, shows why the Keys to Progress is a favored event for the Progressive team year after year:

"This program is a way for us to come together as a company to give back to people who have given so much for our country."

Across the nation, the 2023 Keys to Progress vehicle giveaway honors veterans with personal and commercial vehicles. This year's events were scheduled for the following cities:

• Albany, NY
• Albuquerque, NM
• Altamonte Springs, FL
• Anchorage, AK
• Ankeny, IA
• Appleton, WI
• Baton Rouge, LA
• Boise, ID
• Bozeman, MT
• Buffalo, NY
• Carmel, IN
• Charleston, WV
• Charlotte, NC
• Cleveland, OH
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Columbia, SC
• Columbus, OH
• East Dundee, IL
• Federal Way, WA
• Gilbert, AZ
• Glen Burnie, MD
• Greenville, SC
• Harrisburg, SD
• Highland Heights, OH
• Houston, TX
• Jacksonville, FL
• Johnston, RI
• Kansas City, KS
• Kapolei, HI
• Kennesaw, GA
• Knoxville, TN
• Las Vista, NE
• Little Rock, AR
• Louisville, KY
• Malvern, PA
• Mesquite, TX
• Metairie, LA
• Midvale, UT
• Miramar, FL
• Mobile, AL
• Monroeville, PA
• Nashville, TN
• Norfolk, VA
• Pasadena, CA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Raleigh, NC
• Ridgeland, MS
• Riverview, FL
• Roseville, MN
• Sacramento, CA
• San Antonio, TX
• Santee, CA
• South Plainfield, NJ
• Springfield, MO
• Sterling Height, MI
• Tigard, OR
• Tulsa, OK
• Washington DC
• West Chester, OH
• West Fargo, ND
• West Palm Beach, FL
• Westwood, MA

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, 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 vehicle donations and titling and registration of some vehicles for recipients.
• Local charities help to identify veteran recipients in each region.