• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Collision Repair Education Foundation

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • E-News
  • Find a School
  • Donate Now
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Governance Information
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Staff
    • Forms and Downloads
  • Students
    • How We Can Help You
    • Collision Student Careers
    • Student Scholarship and Grant Application
    • Student Resume Database
  • Schools
    • Art Meets Automotive Student Contest
    • Strengthen Your Program
    • Collision Repair Education Foundation Benchmark Grant
    • Foundation Merchandise
    • Collision Repair Schools Solutions Survey
  • Supporters
    • Who are our supporters?
    • Industry Leadership Circle
    • Honor Roll of Donors
    • 3M Hire Our Heroes
  • Get Involved
    • Uniform Sponsorship
    • Invest In Our Shared Future
    • Directed-Purpose Gifts
    • Gifts-In-Kind
    • Volunteers and Committees
    • Contact Us
  • News & Events
    • Career Fairs
    • Annual Golf Fundraiser
    • Press Releases
    • eNews
    • Photo Album

August 11, 2015 By admin

THOMAS COLEMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLISION SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND STUDENTS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – July 15, 2015 – A memorial scholarship was established in the name of Thomas Coleman through the Collision Repair Education Foundation that will benefit southern California area collision school programs and students. Tom, who passed away this past November at the age of 47, was the co-founder, co-owner, and operator of LC Automotive Group, a six center collision repair business located in Inland Empire area of Southern California. LC Automotive will be contributing $5,000 quarterly to this fund and collision industry members are invited to participate as well.

Tom was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in April 2013 and leading up to his passing was very active in raising funds for research targeting neurodegenerative diseases. Tom’s support of the University of Michigan’s Program for Neurology Research & Discovery stem cell research initiative included his undergoing an experimental 7-hour operation in September 2013 in which 2 million stem cells were implanted directly into this spine. While Tom did not personally benefit from this surgery, his willingness to undergo this intrusive operation has contributed to the effort of finding an effective means of treating, and ultimately curing, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Tom’s entire adult life was spent in the collision industry, starting as a technician helper in Orange County and included other positions like parts and production manager, estimator, center manager and managed California operations for Caliber Collision in the early 2000’s. “Tom was a great person, family man, friend and business partner’, states Bill Lawrence, LC Auto co-founder. “His contributions to LC Auto were significant, but Tom’s more important contribution was his involvement in ALS research, to which he dedicated his time, body and intellect. We are proud to support CREF and Southern California collision school programs on behalf of Tom and the collision repair inter-industry, which actively supported Tom and his fight against ALS.”

Industry members interested in supporting this memorial scholarship fund should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5245 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

Filed Under: Press Release

Primary Sidebar

Tags

3M Adelmann Family Scholarship Benchmark Grant Career Fair Career Fairs CCC Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Donations Driven Brands Fundraisers Gerber Hire Our Heroes I-CAR Committees Memorial Fund Memorial Scholarship Nominations PPG Resume Database Scholarships SkillsUSA Student of the Year Student Success TopGolf Top Tech Competition Vehicle Donation

Latest Posts

  • If you’re ready to find and land the job of your dreams, you’ve come to the right place! January 22, 2023
  • A Year in Review: CREF Celebrates a Successful 2022 January 13, 2023
  • CREF Opens 2023 Scholarship Applications January 13, 2023
  • Ten I-CAR Committees Raise $163,000 to Benefit 27 Collision Schools with Benchmark Grants Through CREF January 4, 2023
  • Four CREF Grants Help Schools Build a Better Future January 4, 2023

Footer

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

About the Foundation


The Collision Repair Education Foundation is a national nonprofit and tax-exempt student organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code, Section (501)(c)(3).

Donor Privacy Policy

Discrimination Policy

Equity Statement

ADDRESS:
Collision Repair Education Foundation
5125 Trillium Blvd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

PHONE: 888.722.3787
Email: info@ed-foundation.org

Recent Posts

  • If you’re ready to find and land the job of your dreams, you’ve come to the right place!
  • A Year in Review: CREF Celebrates a Successful 2022
  • CREF Opens 2023 Scholarship Applications
  • Ten I-CAR Committees Raise $163,000 to Benefit 27 Collision Schools with Benchmark Grants Through CREF
  • Four CREF Grants Help Schools Build a Better Future
  • Nationwide Sponsors Two Benchmark School Grants Through CREF
  • CCC’s Classroom Enhancement Grants Allow Schools to Elevate Collision Programs Through CREF

FIND A SCHOOL NEAR YOU

Search

Copyright © 2023 · Collision Repair Education Foundation · Log in