HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – April 2, 2013 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation is encouraging collision industry businesses to take an active part in their local collision school programs by assisting them in applying for the 2013 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover $50,000 school grant. Two $50,000 grants (one secondary, one post-secondary) will be awarded this year as well as several secondary prizes of $10,000. Below are the top reasons why industry members should be working together with their local collision school programs and working together on the 2013 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant application:
3. Establish connection with local collision school, instructor, administration, and students – Now is the opportune time for industry businesses to become fully engaged with their local collision school programs. By meeting with school administration, the collision instructor(s), and their students, local businesses can view firsthand what their collision program needs are and coach them on what skill sets collision students should have by graduation to ensure for the most efficient and capable professional possible.
2. Makeover applicant schools at the top of Education Foundation’s support list in 2013 – Those schools who apply for 2013 Makeover grant receive top priority for support by the Collision Repair Education Foundation in the coming year. Since the Makeover grant’s inception in 2009, the non-winning schools have received over $1 million (total) in donations and support. Makeover applicant instructors are also provided exclusive opportunities to attend technical training and receive other donations from industry supporters.
1. Congrats, your local school has won and their $50,000 collision wish list will be fulfilled – There will be at least two selected Makeover winning schools this fall and local industry members taking an active part in the application process can help enhance a school’s application. Many collision schools are facing severely reduced budgets and this grant will transform the winning collision programs for many years to come. An industry member’s guidance and support of helping a local school apply for the Makeover grant could lead to that school being selected as one of the winners.
Instructors are advised to begin the application early which is available online at CollisionEducationFoundation.org. The Makeover grant is available to secondary and post-secondary collision school programs nationwide, with priority going to not-for-profit/public schools. The application is due May 31, 2013 and the winning schools will be announced during an industry reception to be held at SEMA 2013.
As part of the Makeover grant application, schools provide their own, itemized wish list, which can include any tools, supplies, and equipment that are needed by the collision program. Each of the winning schools will have their $50,000 wish list fulfilled through the Collision Repair Education Foundation and industry donors/supporters. The goal of the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant is to honor a school that has been doing an outstanding job in educating students in collision repair, but needs some financial assistance to improve their program’s teaching materials and equipment. With strained school budgets, the Education Foundation and industry supporters have the opportunity to bridge the program’s financial gap and to make a difference in the lives of the students studying collision repair.
If you are interested in connecting with a local collision school or have questions on the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant, please contact Education Foundation Director of Grant Programs, Melissa Marscin at 847.463.5282 or Melissa.Marscin@ed-foundation.org.
