Faith, Hope, and a Car: Nonprofits Surprise Single Mom
National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides and Project Inspire Extraordinary Team Provide Deserving San Diegan with a Gently-Used Car.
SAN DIEGO–On Friday, April 11, 2025, San Diego business owners and community members rallied around single mom Ashley Gandolfo to surprise her with a gently-used car. Rock Church attendees, Dan and Arica Carranza and founders of Project Inspire Extraordinary (PIE) partnered with the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program to make this surprise happen.
In 2024, the Carranza family founded Project Inspire Extraordinary (PIE) to create a ripple effect of inspiring business leaders to help others positively impact their communities. For the Carranzas, they have been in the automotive industry collectively for 35 years. They had been attending the Rock Church since moving to Point Loma San Diego in 2017 and were encouraged by Pastor Miles McPherson to be a part of the Do Something Church, which encourages people to use their gifts and talents to give back to the community.
The NABC Recycled Rides® program provides reliable transportation to people in need and organizations that serve them. Since 2007, the NABC Recycled Rides program has presented more than 3,500 vehicles, valued at more than $50 million, to people in need.
Dan Carranza, Co-Founder of PIE, shares, “We founded Project Inspire Extraordinary to put the ‘Human back into Humanity’ and to ignite a movement of compassion and contribution, where business leaders and neighbors unite to do good, uplift others, and spark a ripple of lasting impact. True leadership and greatness is not measured by what you have, but how you help others. People matter more than things, we must choose service over status, and compassion over convenience.”
Gandolfo was nominated due to her selflessness and her dedication to her community. Her story hasn’t been easy. In 2020, Gandolfo lost her husband when the kids were very young. During COVID, she suffered extreme health complications and almost lost her own life. Recently, her car broke down for good. With three kids in sports and activities, she had to borrow a car from a family member. Even though her car was done for good, she followed up with, “But God is good, and I am able to borrow my dad's for a bit.”
Patrick O’Neal, owner of Body Shop Express, one of the businesses that banded together to make this surprise happen explains how giving back to the community is an integral part of their business.
O’Neal shares, “We want to be the shop of choice. To do that, we have to do things right. We have to know we are fixing the cars your families are driving, and we have a commitment because your lives are in our hands.”
Gandolfo’s story highlights how the community can come together to help deserving families.
Gandolfo reflects, “We are beyond blessed, this is going to open up so many opportunities for my family, this is everything. This opens up our eyes and seeing how many people and businesses got involved to help us with this car. Thankful is an understatement. We are beyond blessed and know God has delivered this amazing blessing.”
Over the past few years, the Carranza family, through PIE, has donated five 26’ Box Trucks, which inspired another group to donate four box trucks to the Rock Church. The trucks were used for the recent LA wildfire relief efforts. This collaboration led to over 90 pallets of donations and relief supplies being delivered to distribution centers at Zoe Church and LA Dream Center for LA wildfire victims, first responders and firefighters.
This isn’t the first time the Carranza family has gifted a car. In 2024, Rock Church Oahu volunteer, Mama Grace was nominated and received a car from the same program. Mama Grace’s servant’s heart led her to serve other military and local families in need of childcare. Today, she is the beloved Hanai mother and grandmother of many sons, daughters, and grandchildren in Hawaii. After hearing her story, it was unanimously agreed that Mama Grace deserved a new car. The Carranzas connect their work to the teachings of a Do Something Church.
Dan shares his motivation by saying, “If we can inspire other people to do something. The word extraordinary is how we can do ordinary things with extra. Extra care, extra love, extra passion, extra energy, extra inspiration, and make a difference.”
For this recent car donation, the Carranzas and PIE mobilized San Diego local business owners including AkzoNobel, Body Shop Express - Point Loma, Certified Collision Group, LKQ Refinish, Brenda Harries Allstate Insurance, Honda of El Cajon, Tire Choice, Manyx Glass, Metal Massager, Tire Choice, and Enterprise Rent a Car. These businesses donated their time, services and supplies to make this surprise happen.
After being given the car, Gandolfo shares, “This is more than I could have ever imagined. When God does something, He does it big.”
Project Inspire Extraordinary is always looking to make a difference by helping in the community. You can write and nominate a recipient and also donate to their services at www.projectinspireextraordinary.com.
