By now many people have seen the hit show Jay Leno’s Garage. Where the iconic late night television host walks viewers through his impressive collection of vehicles. Seen by families every week it is one of NBC’s hottest shows. On August 7th, NBC aired an episode showing the heart behind the scenes of their show.
Jay invited Army veteran Craig Andrade and his family to come to California to view his garage.
Mr Andrade lost both of his legs and a friend on tour in Iraq when his patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device. When he returned home, he was tasked with the difficult process of rehabilitation, which he was able to accomplish through the help of his wife.
Hearing this story prompted Jay Leno, Chrysler, and The Wounded Warrior Project to find Mr Andrade a means to transport his family and himself. Working together they surprised the family with a brand new 2017 wheelchair accessible Chrysler Pacifica with a BraunAbility side entry conversion. Offering enough space for the entire family to finally ride together. The gift was enough to move the veteran and his wife to tears.
Handing Mr Andrade’s children the keys Leno reaffirmed his thankfulness for Mr Andrade’s sacrifice saying “"You know your dad is a real American hero, This is for him. … We can't thank you enough.”
The moments captured on camera are truly moving, see the full episode here.
Thank you to Jay Leno, Chrysler, and the Wounded Warrior Project for making such a massive difference to Army Veteran Craig Andrade and his family.
For more information on BraunAbility and the side or rear entry Chrysler Pacifica, check out our Wheelchair Vans page, offering technical details and specs for each conversion.
My professional background stems from non-profit marketing and fundraising for a large children’s cancer hospital. Every day I was able to make connections and relationships for kids and their families going through devastating times. From securing small donations to large corporate support, it was all about providing hope that one day doctors and researchers would find a cure. It was truly an honor to be a part of something so important.
Just this past year, I came to work alongside my family for BLVD.com, a website dedicated to offering the latest information and resources for people needing mobility products. This was a dream come true for me as I have always wanted to combine more time with my family while still helping others. Our family has been in the mobility industry for over 35 years with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for people with mobility issues. This is the spirit behind BLVD and what I am most excited about sharing in my blog.
I love meeting new people and have found that volunteering is the best way to learn more about others and myself. Coffee keeps me going as do walks my pup "Kirby" and most of all being with family and friends. I invite you to check out my blog to learn more about how "together we can move through life better!"
