Hoffman Estates, Ill. (August 3, 2023) –
The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) 21st Annual Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by PPG Automotive Finishes, was a resounding success! Held on July 19 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Indianapolis, IN, the event sold out to capacity with 144 golfers and over two dozen sponsors and industry supporters enjoying a day on the green while raising over $100,000 to support collision repair programs, schools and students around the country.
“Thank you to all of our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers who helped make the Foundation’s 2023 golf fundraiser such an incredible success,” CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode stated. “Funds raised from this event allow CREF to continue supporting high school and college collision programs, students, and instructors across the country. We look forward to gathering everyone again in 2024 when the summer industry meetings take us to Denver!”
The winning team – from Certified Collision Group – consisted of Bob Cornelius, Steve Widen and Stan Wassell.
Participants also had the chance to win great prizes by competing in individual hole contests. The winners included:
- Longest Drive #2: Taylor Imel (Mirka)
- Closest to the Pin #4: Paul Cook (GEICO)
- Closest to the Pin #12: Gene Lopez (Seidner’s Collision Centers)
- Longest Drive #13: Josh Perry (Chief Automotive)
- Straightest Drive #16: Dustin Warren (AkzoNobel)
Helicopter ball drop winners included:
- Closest to the Pin: FinishMaster Corporate Donation ($2,000 winnings)
- Second Closest to the Pin: Cliff Black of Static Solutions ($500 winnings)
- Third Closest to the Pin: John Eck of General Motors ($250 winnings)
- Farthest from the Pin: Paul Folino of LKQ ($250 winnings)
All four helicopter ball drop winners graciously donated their winnings back to CREF to further support tomorrow’s collision repair professionals.
During the reception following the day of golf, attendees heard from collision professional Destiny Potter about how the Foundation helped her pursue her desired career path by eliminating her student debt in 2017.
Eckenrode encourages “industry members to participate in our 2024 Golf fundraiser through a sponsorship, by attending or by donating items for the raffle table and silent auction. Because of your efforts, we are making an impact on the resources of the future.”
CREF is grateful to all its 2023 golf fundraiser sponsors and supporters, including PPG, AkzoNobel, Allstate, Automotive Color & Supply Corporation, Axalta, CAPA, Chief Collision Technology, CollisionRight, Enterprise, GEICO, Gerber Collision & Glass, Hertz, Kent Automotive, Mopar, National Coatings & Supplies/Single Source, Nissan Certified Collision Repair Network, Painters Supply & Equipment, Refinish Distributors Alliance, Subaru Certified Collision, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, 3M, BASF, Caliber Collision, Classic Collision, Columbus Collision Education Group, DCR Systems, FinishMaster, Indiana Auto Body Association, Indiana Automotive Equipment, Lord FUSOR, Refinish Solutions Group, SEM Products and Snapsheet.
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 should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Executive Director, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org. 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.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.
