Veterans Retreat, Tampa, Orlando Veterans Presented Keys To Vehicles

TAMPA, FL — On Tuesday, local military veterans received the keys to new rides, providing reliable, life-changing transportation as part of Progressive’s tenth annual Keys to Progress.

With vehicle giveaways in every state, Tampa’s Clara Turner and Orlando’s Richard Travick as well as the nonprofit My Warrior’s Place joined more than 100 veterans and their families who received a vehicle from Progressive with the help of Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

After her son gave his life in service to his country, recipient Kelly R. Kowall started the nonprofit My Warrior's Place. The nonprofit is a retreat center in Ruskin that offers five programs including safe shelter, emergency support, service dog boarding, boating trips and holistic healing.

This year’s tenth annual giveaway brings the cumulative number of vehicles donated through the program to more than 900.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, approximately 40 percent of veterans live in rural areas where affordable transportation options are limited, and where it’s necessary for them to travel great distances to receive medical care, reach employment centers and access other services.

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, were delivered to veterans just before Veterans Day.

"As we celebrate this 10-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 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.