(Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune) Beatriz Peralta and her sons Edwin Lopez Peralta, 13, and Angel Lopez Peralta get their first look at there new car at the Central Collision Center in Draper, Utah Tuesday, February 14, 2012. Bear River Mutual Insurance Co., Central Collision Center and several other local companies have combined resources to provide the single mother with a newly refurbished automobile.

Utah companies team up to give car to family in need

Fixed-up auto will be used for vital medical appointments.

the salt lake tribune

First Published Feb 14 2012 03:51 pm • Last Updated Feb 15 2012 12:16 am

Bear River Mutual Insurance Co. and Central Collision Repair have led an effort to refurbish an automobile for a Utah family in need of reliable transportation.

The automobile, a fixed-up 2005 six-cylinder Chevrolet Malibu, was presented Tuesday to Beatriz Peralta and sons Edwin and Angel at a ceremony at Central Collision in Draper.

Bear River and Central Collision executives worked with Primary Children’s Medical Center to select the recipients.

Janet Brooks, Primary Children’s Medical Center child advocacy manager, said the Peraltas have struggled to maintain dependable transportation to get family members to medical appointments. Edwin, who is being treated for spina bifida, hydrocephalus and diabetes, uses a wheelchair and needs regular monitoring of his health. Angel is being treated for sickle-cell disease. He requires regular blood transfusions and hospitalization when he is in crisis.

"This is the third time we have presented a car to a family," said Don Adams, president and CEO of Bear River. "The first time was during our 100th anniversary in 2009. Then we donated a car during Christmas season in 2010. And we thought that this year it would be nice to present a car to a family that needed it and would be appreciative on Valentine’s Day."

Along with Bear River and Central Collission, Larry Miller Chevrolet, LKQ of Utah, Lugo Glass, CN Insurance and Akzo Nobel Coatings made donations or provided in-kind services to help refurbish the vehicle.

At the presentation ceremony, Central Collision also gave the family a $250 Visa card. Bear River provided more than $600 from an employee fund drive and TKO Concrete added another $500.

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