HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – April 4, 2011- Stacy Bartnik of CARSTAR and Clark Plucinski of True2Form/Gerber Collision & Glass have been added to the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s donor Industry Leadership Circle through their personal contributions of $1,000 each to the organization. The donations from Bartnik, current member of the Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and Plucinski, Education Foundation Chairman Emeritus, will assist the organization in providing support to secondary and post-secondary collision repair students across the country. Through the generosity of the Foundation donors, the organization has provided auto body schools and students with $3 million in scholarship and grants since 2008.
CARSTAR Asst. Vice President and Director of Field Services Stacy Bartnik said, “The Collision Repair Education Foundation is a key contributor to the future of the Collision Repair Industry as they are making available valuable tools and resources for the education of new technicians. This provides the technicians with the opportunity to build a successful career upon their graduation as they are up-to-date on the most recent auto body repair techniques and standards. I am happy that I am able to help contribute to the education of new technicians as the Foundation is enabling them to have access to the most recent technology in auto body repair while providing them with top notch instructors.”
True2Form/Gerber Collision & Glass Executive Vice President Clark Plucinski added, “I grew up in one of the richest, well funded school systems in the country that taught out of a 1950 text book – in 1968. The section on metal repair, and painting referenced how to paddle lead and heat and apply nitrocellulose paint; this at a time when the industry had moved to plastic for body repairs and acrylic lacquer to refinish. We had a homemade booth and an instructor that found old, worn out vehicles to repair to keep the program going. Today, most of our bona fide career and technical schools have everything needed to support the growth and development of our youth. However, all of the collision programs continue to be challenged by economic factors, downsizing or the elimination of The Federal Perkins Loan Program, a federal program to help low income students. We owe it to our industry to give back. There is no better way to do this than by giving a tax-deductable donation to the Foundation to help the kids. I have asked the industry to help us over the years. Our company has given thousands of dollars, but somehow – reaching into my pocket shows the seriousness, importance, and commitment to help our industry. Only through the industry’s support can the Foundation help the kids, the future of the industry!”
Industry professionals and businesses can make tax-deductible contributions by visiting the Foundation online at www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org or contact Associate Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or 847-463-5244 for additional information.
