Hoffman Estates, Ill. (February 12, 2020) –
As part of its dedication to the future of the collision repair industry and safe and proper repairs, Audatex, a Solera Company, donated over $2 million in software subscriptions to schools with collision repair educational programs in the United States in partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, an initiative that provides students with the opportunity to learn on the same software utilized in today’s shops.
An additional $25,000 donation from Audatex provides unrestricted funds to support collision repair students. Audatex made a five-year commitment in 2018 to provide these funds to ensure collision repair training programs have access to the tools and resources needed to successfully train the next generation of technicians in the ever-evolving repair industry.
“We are proud to partner with organizations like CREF to invest in the future of the automotive repair industry and create innovative opportunities for hands-on learning using our industry-leading technology,” said Don Mikrut, Vice President, Solera Global SMR Service Sales.
The software donations from Audatex are part of the company’s collaboration with the Foundation on the Audatex Educational Institutions Program which also provides eligible schools with access to online courses and training, a custom curriculum that includes CEUs and I-CAR points, and technical support. This partnership has provided Audatex estimating software to nearly 300 schools’ collision repair programs in 41 states, a number that increases each year.
Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for the Foundation said, “I would like to thank Audatex for their continued support of the industry’s pre-employment education system. Access to the latest technology during their training is a key driver of student success when they start their career in the collision industry.”
To qualify for the Audatex Educational Institutions Programs, technical schools in the United States and Canada offering a collision repair program must complete the Educational Institutions Program contact form found at Audatex.us.
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 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.
###
If you would like more information about this topic, please call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.
