Hoffman Estates, IL – March 27, 2012 – Seidner’s Collision Centers of southern California renewed their Industry Leadership Circle donation with the Collision Repair Education Foundation by sponsoring $5,000 in tools and equipment for Azusa High School’s (Azusa, CA) collision program. This purchase will provide the Azusa High School collision students with the latest in current repair technology for learning how to safely and correctly repair collision damaged vehicles.
Azusa High School Assistant Principal Michael Larson noted, “With the help of Steve Seidner from Seidner’s Collision Centers and Gene Lopez from I-CAR, the collision repair program at Azusa High School received an unexpected donation of tool sets, materials for collision repair, and instructional support for our instructor, Frank Rodriguez. This donation puts our collision repair program into the 21st century, and provides the potential for our students to be valued employees in the industry. Our students now have another avenue to develop skills in a trade that is continually upgrading and revising techniques in automobile repair. This is huge for our school and our students. We thank Seidner’s Collision Centers, I-CAR, and the Collision Repair Education Foundation.”
Steve Seidner of Seidner’s Collision Centers noted, “I have been involved in the collision repair business for over 25 years. It is critical to our industry that we continue to develop technicians for the future. In the San Gabriel Valley most of the collision repair programs have been eliminated due to budget cuts. I had the opportunity to meet Frank Rodriguez, auto shop teacher at Azusa High School, and noticed his passion for his job and his students. Gene Lopez from I-CAR and I met with Frank and the school administrators to discuss the opportunities to introduce a collision repair program to the school and the school staff felt this would be a great opportunity for the school and the students. We at Seidner’s feel it is important to give back to our community and industry. With donations from I-CAR for the curriculum, vehicles from Automobile Club of Southern California & State Farm and vacuum assisted sanders from Mirka, we had a great start to get the collision program going. I would challenge all collision repair facilities to consider supporting a local school’s collision program through the Collision Repair Education Foundation.”
For additional information about Seidner’s Collision Centers, visit www.seidnerscc.com. Industry members interested in supporting secondary and post-secondary school collision programs through monetary and/or in-kind product donations should contact Associate Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.
