Hoffman Estates, IL- May 4, 2012 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation is seeking collision industry members to provide in-kind product donations of tools, equipment, and supplies that would be distributed to secondary and post-secondary collision school programs this fall. Product donations through the Education Foundation are tax-deductible and allow collision students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with current products during their technical education. Well-trained collision students have the opportunity to be productive, efficient, and capable employees from day one on the job for collision repair businesses.
Tuscola Technology Center (Caro, MI) Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing Instructor Kurt Chrysler noted, “Product donations allow me to offer my collision students more experience working with up-to-date products and in turn will help to produce a more knowledgeable and experienced future work force. Many of the product donations we have received far exceed our entire teaching budget for the next few years. Collision students gain both valuable experience and confidence when they are learning with the latest and greatest from the collision industry.”
Freedom High School Technology Education Instructor Jay Abitz said, “The donations my program has received the last few years has made an unbelievable impact on our program and most importantly our students. Simple things like safety glasses, tape, and gloves may seem like small donations, but its something that I don’t have to buy, not to mention often times it is a superior product to what I may have purchased in the past just to save money. In addition I have received a variety of much needed materials which places high quality and up-to-date products in the hands of my students. Every year my budget gets smaller and smaller and these generous donations are what keep my program alive. Thank you to everyone that supports the Collision Repair Education Foundation.”
“The Collision Repair Education Foundation is humbled and proud to share that that through our industry supporters, over $7 million in support has been provided to secondary and post-secondary collision school programs nationwide since 2008,” noted Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Chris Northup. “The majority of this support has come in the form of product donations, and we would like to invite the collision industry to be an industry that provides at least $7 million in support every year to collision school programs through the Education Foundation. In a time when schools nationwide are being forced to make budget cuts, the collision industry can shine above all others by showing their support towards the school’s collision programs. Please consider reaching out to the Education Foundation with product that can be donated to schools this fall and join us in assisting the future professionals of the industry.”
Industry members and companies interested in supporting secondary and post-secondary school’s collision programs through monetary and/or in-kind product donations should contact Associate Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or 847-463-5244.
