Meet Keys to Progress® recipients across the country

EVAN:

I'm still at a loss for words. You know, every day I walk out and I see my truck …

… and I'm just thankful for that opportunity and peace of mind that that's given me.

NARRATOR:

In 2017, the Keys to Progress program gifted U.S. Navy Petty Officer Evan Heald a vehicle.

EVAN:

It was a pretty difficult time.

You know, military life can be a little bit hard just because, you know, we're basically uprooted every three years. Had some issues come up with my family. My wife had some health issues.

I was going back and forth between Indianapolis and Cincinnati quite a bit. It was just a tremendous thing that, I was able to get a new vehicle and not have to worry about that expense.

And so I'm in a unique situation being on both sides, where I've received a vehicle and I've also been part of the gifting process. There are so many veterans that struggle, post-military life, both financially, as well as somewhat you know mentally, and for Progressive to specifically target veterans with this program ...

... it's really an amazing gift.

CODY:

Getting out of the service is, um … overwhelming.

NARRATOR:

Cody Hall, United States Navy Veteran, 2016 Keys to Progress Recipient.

CODY:

I chose to get out of the service for my family and my kids and … it was hard …

… because I loved what I did and I was good at what I did.

We struggled a little bit because we were not making anywhere near the money that we were making prior.

For about a year my husband and I were sharing a car.

So, it … it kind of limited me to only being able to work evenings.

I was never home. This opened up so many opportunities for me knowing that I was gonna have reliable transportation for my kids …

… and for myself and my family …

… and knowing that I could go work a day shift and be home in the evening.

I was able to go to my daughter's lacrosse games which I would not have been able to do.

When they revealed the cars, there was gift baskets sitting in front of every one of them.

There was gift cards for all sorts of different places …

… and that relieves so much pressure off of my husband and I. We were able to cover a lot of Christmas with, uh, those gift cards.

The one question that everybody asked me at the Keys to Progress event was, "What's the first thing you're gonna do with your new car?"

And I smiled, and I said, "I'm gonna apply for a job at Progressive."

And I don't think they believed me, but I did!

I am very looking forward to being on the giving side this year.

… because I just remember that day was so special to my family and to me, and I'd like to be part of somebody else's special day.