Hoffman Estates, IL – June 28, 2018 – The Atlanta I-CAR Committee is seeking more vehicle submissions for their Rockin Rides Car Show this year. The event will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center during NACE Automechanika Atlanta from August 8-10. The car show is limited to the first 100 vehicles, so the Committee stresses the importance of registering vehicles early.
Proceeds will be donated to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to provide funds, supplies, and scholarships to collision repair programs in the Metro Atlanta area.
The cost to participate in the car show is $25. All proceeds go to benefit donated to a technical school program through the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
The application deadline for vehicle submissions is July 27, 2018. Applications must include a digital color photograph or rendering of the vehicle, all owner and driver information, and a signed photography/video release. Registration is available online at: bit.ly/RockinRidesATL
Acceptance emails will be sent out immediately after they are reviewed.
In addition to the Rockin’ Rides Car Show, on Thursday, August 9th, the Rockin’ Rides Reception will open its doors to raise money for local automotive schools. Make sure to register for the party for only $25 you can enjoy food, drinks and great music while hanging out with old and new friends.
The Atlanta Committee has been in place nearly 15 years and they’ve been working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation for 12. Not only does this benefit the local school system, but educating future technicians helps solve a industry wide problem: a shortage of new, well trained technicians.
I-CAR Atlanta Committee member, Jonathan Entrekin, of Caliber Collision, said, “Coming from the shop side, I got involved in raising funds for CREF because every year more and more technicians are leaving the industry and fewer are going into it. From my perspective, we’re putting money back into the schools so we can train these students and bring them into the shops and have technicians trained in school programs that have equipment, supplies, and good cars to repair.”
The Atlanta I-CAR Committee has raised nearly $400,000 for CREF in the last 12 years. Donations are awarded to collision schools local to the Metro Atlanta area.
According to Gerald Poirier, I-CAR Committee member from Farmers Insurance, the committee “has established two $4,000 scholarships in Georgia for post-secondary collision schools.” The money can be used for any collision repair school in-state or not. The money is also used for tool grants, makeover grants, and other funds. Currently, the committee works with lots of local schools but they’re looking to include schools across Georgia.
“Maxwell High School of Technology was the first school we partnered with,” said Poirier “Their program was nowhere near where it needed to be… They had $600 a year for materials and about 20 students a year coming into the program. About 9 years later, they usually have 70-80 students a year and the amount of materials they have is basically endless.”
Contact Information:
Those interested in participating in the RockinRides Car Show can find more information at bit.ly/RockinRidesATL or contact michael.j.ingram@sherwin.com
Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s roster of supporters to assist high school and post-secondary collision school programs and students should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5245 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org
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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:
The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
