Two Kansas Army veterans are riding home in new cars, thanks to theKeys to Progress event.
Progressive Insurance puts on the event each year to honor veterans for their service. They give away 100 cars across the country. Partnering with local auto body shops, the cars are totally refurbished and like new.
Randy Ramirez and Kevin Cosgrove were the recipients in Kansas City this year.
Ramirez served in the Army for 10 years in Iraq and Iran. He has a wife and little girl. They couldn't stop smiling looking at their Ford Explorer.
Cosgrove is from Wichita and had some hard times befall him. He struggled with homelessness for a little while and needs the car to go to work. The first thing he'll do in his new Toyota RAV4 is visit his mom in Texas.
"I feel reborn. I can't thank everybody enough. I can do anything now," Cosgrove said with tears in his eyes.
Each veteran will go home with $1,750 in cash and gift cards as well.
The donated vehicles were refurbished by Bob Allen Ford and Cable Dahmer Buick GMC Cadillac. Several organizations partnered with Progressive, including the National Auto Body Council (NABC) and its body shop members, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Veracity Research Co. Investigations (VRC), Copart, Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., and 1-800-Charity Cars.
-----------------------
Sarah Plake can be reached at Sarah.Plake@KSHB.com
