Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 4, 2023) –
As part of its ongoing efforts to build a better tomorrow for the collision repair industry by supporting collision schools and students, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is proud to announce that four programs will receive substantial financial assistance in the form of the Foundation’s 2022 Benchmark Grants. Each school was selected for its efforts in a unique category respective to the program.
“Collision repair programs and those that move them forward are the first line to supplying the industry’s future workforce and have an important voice,” insists CREF Director of Marketing and Project Management Amber Ritter. “The Benchmark Grant allows CREF to harness the knowledge and voice of the front line who support entry level talent in our industry. There are so many opportunities to build and innovate and we are excited to be able to be a part of the journey.”
In the Employment category, a $25,000 grant was awarded to Warren Tech (Lakewood, CO) to support the school’s efforts to bridge the gap between education and employment. The Wildcard grant for $25,000 was bestowed upon Chippewa Valley Technical College (Eau Claire, WI) for its innovative approach to collision education.
A $10,000 grant was awarded to Lockhart High School (Lockhart, TX) to fund the tools and equipment needed to help the school reach the next tier, and a $2,000 grant given to Kootenai Technical Education Campus (Rathdrum, ID) to aid with maintaining the program.
Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2022 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant. 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. Recipient schools use these funds to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to enhance their students’ learning experience and elevate the caliber of their graduates, ensuring that graduates are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation. Applications for the 2023 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants will be available online in Spring 2023.
Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. Monetary donations can be made online.
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.
Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.
