Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –
During the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Annual Reception, the Foundation was proud to announce that 11 I-CAR Committees raised funds in 2019 for grants that will benefit 39 different schools’ collision repair programs in ten states. A variety of fundraising methods were employed, generating $177,900 in funds that will aid the industry’s future generation in becoming prepared for a career in collision repair. Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2019 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant.
Kyle Medeiros, Chair of the Nashville I-CAR Committee, said, “These grants, via the Foundation, help our local schools by providing them with the necessary tools and equipment to educate and train the industry’s future technicians. Involvement is important because, at the end of the day, we want to set up future generations for success. By giving back and providing them with the proper resources, we are collectively taking positive steps in seeing that future vision come to fruition.”
Gerry Poirier, Chair of the Atlanta I-CAR Committee, stated, “The benefits of the Foundation to local schools is huge. Many schools do not have the proper equipment, materials or supplies to reflect the requirements of the collision industry today. Many instructors feel like they’re on an island, trying to make these programs function. When we help guide them, both through the Foundation and locally, their eyes light up that they now have some industry support. Schools we’ve worked with have seen student count increase, due to having better direction on what the industry is looking for from these graduates and better learning methods.”
“The automotive industry needs influential people to share the future of our next generation,” added Lisa Ferguson, Chair of the Greater Philadelphia I-CAR Committee. “The best thing we can do is put time and effort into helping our youth and provide them with the tools they need to succeed. We can also help outfit the educational facilities to become better learning environments and ongoing support systems that the students will carry into their careers. Together, we can all play a part in making a difference!”
The Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants recognize schools that excel at educating students in collision repair, but due to strained school budgets, the programs require additional financial assistance to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to ensure that students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation.
Industry members interested in supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.
The eleven I-CAR Committees and the grants they bestowed include:
Atlanta I-CAR Committee
- Athens Tech College (Athens, GA): $10,000
- Chattahoochee Technical College (Jasper, GA): $5,000
- Etowah High School (Woodstock, GA): $25,000
- Maxwell High School of Technology (Lawrenceville, GA): $5,000
- North Georgia Technical College (Clarkesville, GA): $5,000
Columbus Collision Education Group
- EHOVE Career Center (Milan, OH): $500
- Fort Hayes Career Center (Columbus, OH): $2,000
- Four County Career Center (Archbold, OH): $500
- Live Oaks Career Campus (Milford, OH): $500
- Miami Valley Career Center (Englewood, OH): $500
- Waite High School (Toledo, OH): $500
Greater Philadelphia I-CAR Committee
- Berks Career and Technology Center (Oley, PA): $2,000
- Forbes Road Career & Technical Center (Monroeville, PA): $2,100
- Northern Westmoreland Career & Technical Center (New Kensington, PA): $2,700
- Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA): $4,000
- Reading-Muhlenburg Career and Tech Center (Reading, PA): $3,700
- Western Area Career & Technical Center (Canonsburg, PA): $1,100
Indianapolis I-CAR Committee
- Central 9 Career Center (Greenwood, IN): $5,500
Knoxville I-CAR Committee
- Greene Technology Center (Greenville, TN): $7,500
- TCAT (Morristown, TN): $7,500
- TCAT (Knoxville, TN): $7,500
Minnesota State I-CAR Committee
- Hennepin Technical College (Eden Prairie, MN): $1,000
- Minnesota State College Southeast (Winona, MN): $1,000
- South Central College (North Mankato, MN): $1,000
Nashville I-CAR Committee
- Lincoln College of Technology (Nashville, TN): $5,000
Northern Virginia I-CAR Committee
- Chantilly High School STEM Academy (Chantilly, VA): $7,500
- Dowell J Howard Center (Winchester, VA): $7,500
- Fauquier High School (Warrenton, VA): $7,500
- MATA @ The Academies of Loudoun (Leesburg, VA): $7,500
Phoenix I-CAR Committee
- East Valley Institute of Technology (Mesa, AZ): $5,000
- Gateway Community College (Phoenix, AZ): $5,000
- West-MEC (Phoenix, AZ): $5,000
Raleigh I-CAR Committee
- Westover High School (Fayetteville, NC): $10,000
St. Louis I-CAR Committee
- Lake Career & Technical Center (Camdenton, MO): $2,800
- Lewis and Clark Career Center (Saint Charles, MO): $2,800
- Nichols Career Center (Jefferson City, MO): $2,800
- North Technical High School (Florissant, MO): $2,800
- Ranken Technical College (St. Louis, MO): $2,800
- South Technical High School (Sunset Hills, MO): $2,800
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.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.
