Collision Repair Education Foundation

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Driven Brands Supports Four Collision Schools with $20,000 in Benchmark Grants Through CREF

 
Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 4, 2023) –

Driven Brands Collision again partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support four collision repair education programs in secondary and post-secondary schools by funding each with a $5,000 Benchmark Grant. These grants elevate the caliber of graduates entering the field and benefit educational facilities located in Driven Brands Collision markets.

“We see individuals build successful lives for themselves and their families through opportunities they received in the collision repair industry,” said Chris Dawson, collision and paint president, Driven Brands. “We are proud to support the Collision Repair Education Foundation as they work diligently to keep these critical collision repair programs intact at schools across the country. We can’t wait to see the talent that comes out of these programs!”

$5,000 Driven Collision Grants were awarded to:

  • North Idaho College (Coeur d’Alene, ID)
  • Lex La-Ray Technical Center (Lexington, MO)
  • Greenville Technical Center (Greenville, SC)
  • Pulaski High School (Milwaukee, WI)

Secondary and post-secondary schools applied 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.

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GEICO’s $15,000 in Benchmark Grants Benefits Three Collision Schools Through CREF

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 4, 2023) –

Continuing its support of the collision industry in 2022, GEICO sponsored three Benchmark Grants through the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), with $5,000 being awarded to each school in an effort to help underfunded collision education programs elevate the caliber of training offered to ensure graduates are prepared to successfully begin their careers in the industry.

“GEICO has long focused on doing our part to make roads safer for everyone,” said D. Ryan West, Assistant Vice President, GEICO. “This donation will help young people build promising and important careers as repair professionals. We’re proud to support the great work CREF does.”

The schools that will benefit are:

  • Career Center of Southern Illinois (Red Bud, IL)
  • Area30 Career Center (Greencastle, IN)
  • SUNY Morrisville (Morrisville, NY)

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.

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A Continuing Legacy: Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 13, 2022) 

As the collision industry mourned the passing of Jeff Silver, who was instrumental creating both I-CAR and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), his family immediately recognized an ideal way to honor his memory and continue his long-lasting legacy on the industry he loved: by creating the “Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship.”

“Jeff was passionate about helping collision school programs and their students, which is why he had an active role in establishing the Collision Repair Education Foundation back in 1991,” shares Jeanne Silver, his wife and soulmate of 36 years. “This memorial scholarship will allow his vision to carry on in supporting these students. Thank you in advance for considering helping honor Jeff’s legacy by supporting this scholarship!”

Born in 1942, Jeff passed away on September 23, 2022 shortly after his 80th birthday. A loving father to four children and Pop Pop to five grandchildren, he left a lasting impact on many outside his family as well through his dedication to the collision repair community. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1966, Jeff began his automotive career at General Motors, helping to develop safety standards before shifting his focus from studying crashes to repairing cars after an accident in 1973.

A respected trailblazer and leaders in industry repair standards, Jeff became involved with I-CAR at its founding, and beginning in 1986, he served as Executive Vice President for 11 years where he helped establish I-CAR’s Gold Class program. During his tenure with I-CAR, Jeff’s concern with the lack of workers entering the skilled trades led to the establishing of the Foundation in 1991 in an effort to attract young people to the collision repair industry and to support the training institutions providing their educations.

Following his departure from I-CAR in 1996, Jeff and Jeanne partnered as owners and operators of Butterfield Bodyworks CARSTAR (Mundelein, IL) until their retirement in 2021. During their 25 years in business, the couple remained engaged with the industry and its future. Jeanne was elected to CREF’s Board of Directors in 2013 and served three terms; from 2018-2020, she guided the organization as Chair of the Board.

“Jeff was my rock, best friend and soulmate,” Jeanne says. “He was beloved by so many people who enjoyed his wit and intelligence.”

Jeff’s dedication to the industry was rewarded in 1993 when he was inducted into the Hall of Eagles, the collision industry’s “Hall of Fame;” Jeanne’s induction in 2015 made them the second husband and wife duo to receive the honor. Since 2009, I-CAR has recognized Jeff’s dedication and service by awarding the annual “Jeff Silver Award” to a select I-CAR Platinum designee who actively promotes the Platinum designation and training and works to bolster the collision repair industry’s positive image.

Memorial funds offer a way to honor a loved one’s memory and continue their legacy, often by helping others in a way that the honoree would have especially appreciated. Due to Jeff’s love for the collision industry and his dedication to ensuring that the next generation would enjoy the same opportunities within the field, the Silver family believes the “Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship,” designed to help remove financial barriers for students studying collision repair, is the perfect way to continue the legacy he left behind.

Anyone considering a year-end, tax-deductible charitable gift is invited to consider helping to honor Jeff’s memory by contributing to his memorial scholarship fund. Simply visit CREF’s online donation page, and select the “Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship” designation for your donation. Scholarship applications will open in January, and the inaugural Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship will be awarded in 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.

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Holding Out for a Hero in Hertz

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (November 14, 2022) –

Collision students need a hero…and they’ve found just the champion they so desperately need in Hertz, as the organization has repeatedly proven its dedication to high school and college collision schools and students through its generous support and sponsorship of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), contributing over $125,000 to the industry’s future in 2022 alone!

“CREF is so grateful to Hertz for its ongoing commitment to the students pursuing a collision career and the educational facilities training them to enter the industry,” lauds CREF Managing Director Brandon Eckenrode. “Their generosity is heartwarming and truly demonstrates how important it is to get involved with our industry’s future. On behalf of the CREF staff and Board, we sincerely thank Hertz for their continued support and look forward to a continued partnership into the future.”

In addition to sponsoring Cintas shirts for students and participating in several local High School & College Transportation Student Career Fairs in 2022, Hertz sponsored CREF’s 2022 Annual Golf Fundraiser and is sponsoring the upcoming TopGolf fundraiser scheduled for November 17 in Schaumburg, IL. Hertz was also the hosting sponsor of CREF’s Art Meets Automotive Reception at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

CREF is also pleased to announce that seven schools will receive 2022 Benchmark Grants, funded by Hertz. Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2022 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant. 

“Hertz is proud of our longstanding relationship with CREF and providing grants to high school and college students nationwide who are looking for careers in collision repair,” said Kristle Bollans, Hertz Senior Director Replacement Accounts. “We have a company goal for 25% of our fleet to be electric by the end of 2024, and it’s critically important for us to educate and prepare the next generation with skills necessary to keep these vehicles in service.”

The following four schools will each receive $5,000 grants:

  • Northeast Arkansas Career & Technical Center (Jonesboro, AR)
  • Forbes Road Career & Technology Center (Monroeville, PA)
  • Des Moines Area Community College (Ankeny, IA)
  • Dennis Technical Education Center (Boise, ID)

Three additional schools will receive $10,000 each in grants from Hertz:

  • Etowah County Career Technical Center (Attalla, AL)
  • Stanly Community College (Albemarle, NC)
  • Contra Costa College (San Pablo, CA)

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.

For more information about Hertz, visit hertz.com.

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.

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69 Collision Schools Receive $436,000 in 2022 Benchmark Grants, Funded by Generous Industry Supporters and Facilitated by CREF

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (November 3, 2022) –

Small steps lead to big progress, and that’s the obvious lesson behind the industry’s support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) Benchmark Grant program.

Thanks to the generosity of a multitude of industry partners – both small and large – the Foundation is proud to announce that 69 collision schools will receive $436,000 in Benchmark Grant funding to financially support their efforts to educate the collision industry’s future workforce and making a difference in the lives of the students training in those programs.

“Congratulations to the CREF Benchmark grant recipient schools and thank you to our industry partners for their continued support,” says CREF Managing Director Brandon Eckenrode. “I would also like to specifically recognize the instructors who applied for the grants as it shows their commitment to bettering their collision programs, which in turn allows them to provide a quality technical education for their students and prepare them for industry entry-level employment. These grants will help instructors with their limited program budgets and CREF is in a unique role of directing industry support to collision programs in need.” 

As part of its ongoing efforts to build a better tomorrow for the collision repair industry by supporting collision schools and students, the 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.

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.

Continuing its support of collision repair schools and students, Caliber Collision donated $15,000 in grant funds to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), divided between three schools to help enhance their students’ educational experience and elevate the caliber of their graduates. Caliber Collision’s $5,000 grants were awarded to:

  • Rosedale Technical College (Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Tidewater Community College (Chesapeake, VA)
  • Freedom High School (Freedom, WI)

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC) and CREF proudly announce that three collision repair school programs will receive Classroom Enhancement Grants, totaling $15,000. The educational facilities will utilize these funds to purchase resources that will enhance their collision repair training programs and equip students with the tools they need for a successful career in collision repair.

The recipient of CCC’s $8,000 Classroom Enhancement Grant is RCTC Ypsilanti Community Schools (Ypsilanti, MI). Coastal Carolina Community College (Jacksonville, NC) will receive a $3,000 Classroom Enhancement Grant, and a $4,000 grant will be bestowed upon West Sound Technical Skills Center (Bremerton, WA).

Driven Brands Collision again partnered with the Foundation to support four collision repair education programs in secondary and post-secondary schools by funding $5,000 Benchmark Grants to help enhance students’ experience and elevate the caliber of graduates entering the field. These grants will benefit educational facilities located in CARSTAR, ABRA and Fix Auto USA markets.

Driven Brands Collision Group awarded $5,000 Driven Collision Grants to:

  • North Idaho College (Coeur d’Alene, ID)
  • Lex La-Ray Technical Center (Lexington, MO)
  • Greenville Technical Center (Greenville, SC)
  • Pulaski High School (Milwaukee, WI)

Thanks to funding from General Motors (GM), CREF’s Support and Connect Project hopes to further support collision students and schools by building on its Benchmark Grant program, and in 2022, this initiative benefitted four schools by providing $5,000 grants from GM to:

  • Aims Community College (Windsor, CO)
  • Wilkes Community College (Wilkesboro, NC)
  • Hamilton Fulton Montgomery Career and Technical Center (Johnstown, NY)
  • Judson High School (Converse, TX)

Erie Insurance supported CREF and the collision industry’s future by awarding a $5,000 grant to GST BOCES Coopers Education Center (Painted Post, NY).

Continuing its collaboration with CREF, Farmers Insurance® sponsored a $5,000 Benchmark Grants in support of collision repair education at Kingwood Park High School (Kingwood, TX) to enhance their educational offerings and help ensure that the students graduating from their programs are prepared to enter a career in the collision repair industry.

Continuing its support of the collision industry in 2022, GEICO sponsored three Benchmark Grants through CREF, awarding $5,000 to each school in an effort to help underfunded collision education programs elevate the caliber of training offered to ensure graduates are prepared to successfully begin their careers in the industry. The schools that will benefit from GEICO’s generosity include:

  • Career Center of Southern Illinois (Red Bud, IL)
  • Area30 Career Center (Greencastle, IN)
  • SUNY Morrisville (Morrisville, NY)

In addition to supporting CREF and collision schools and students in myriad other ways, Hertz funded seven 2022 Benchmark Grants, supporting schools around the country. Four schools will each receive $5,000 grants:

  • Northeast Arkansas Career & Technical Center (Jonesboro, AR)
  • Forbes Road Career & Technology Center (Monroeville, PA)
  • Des Moines Area Community College (Ankeny, IA)
  • Dennis Technical Education Center (Boise, ID)

Three additional schools will receive $10,000 each in grants from Hertz:

  • Etowah County Career Technical Center (Attalla, AL)
  • Stanly Community College (Albemarle, NC)
  • Contra Costa College (San Pablo, CA)

Thanks to the generosity of non-industry entity, JW Bagley Foundation, the following two schools will each receive a $5,000 Benchmark Grant to assist with maintaining their programs:

  • Thornton Fractional High School Center for Academics and Technology (Calumet City, IL)
  • Minnesota State College Southeast (Winona, MN)

LKQ Corporation continued its support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation by donating $30,000 to fund Benchmark Grants for five schools, which will be used to enhance their collision repair education programs and provide the resources necessary to ensure students are receiving the education they – and the industry – deserve.

Rolla Technical Institute (Rolla, MO) will benefit from a $10,000 Benchmark Grant. Additionally, four schools will receive $5,000 each, funded by LKQ:

  • Baton Rouge Community College (Baton Rouge, LA)
  • Southeast Community College (Milford, NE)
  • South Plains College (Levelland, TX)
  • Dowell J Howard Center (Winchester, VA)

Once again, Nationwide Insurance partnered with the Foundation to support collision schools and students by funding $5,000 Benchmark Grants for two Ohio schools in an effort to help collision education programs elevate the caliber of training offered to ensure graduates are prepared to successfully begin their careers in the industry.

Nationwide awarded $5,000 Benchmark Grants to:

  • EHOVE Career Center (Milan, OH)
  • Waite High School (Toledo, OH)

The OEM Collision Repair Roundtable’s donation created two grants, awarded to:

  • Southeastern Community College (West Burlington, IA)
  • New York Automotive & Diesel Institute (Jamaica, NY)

Stellantis also continued its support of the Foundation and collision schools by sponsoring a $5,000 Benchmark Grant for new program additions that will benefit W. D. Ormsby Educational Center (East Aurora, NY).

CREF is also excited to announce that 27 secondary and post-secondary schools in the United States will benefit from Benchmark grants funded through the efforts of ten devoted I-CAR Committees. Various fundraising methods were employed, generating $163,000 in funds that will aid the industry’s future generation in becoming prepared for a career in collision repair. The ten I-CAR Committees and the grants they bestowed include:

Atlanta I-CAR Committee

  • Athens Technical College (Athens, GA): $10,000
  • Etowah High School (Woodstock, GA): $15,000
  • Maxwell High School of Technology (Lawrenceville, GA): $5,000
  • North Georgia Technical College (Clarkesville, GA): $10,000
  • Paulding County High School (Dallas, GA): $15,000

Broward County I-CAR Committee:

  • Atlantic Technical College (Coconut Creek, FL): $5,000
  • McFatter Technical College (Davie, FL): $5,000
  • Sheridan Technical College (Hollywood, FL): $5,000

Columbus Collision Education Group

  • Miami Valley Career and Technology Center (Englewood, OH): $2,500

Greater Philadelphia I-CAR Committee

  • Berks Career & Technology Center (Oley, PA): $3,000
  • Central Montco Technical High School (Plymouth Meeting, PA): $4,000
  • Lebanon County Career & Technology Center (Lebanon, PA): $1,500
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA): $4,000

Indianapolis I-CAR Committee

  • Central Nine Career Center (Greenwood, IN): $5,000
  • Walker Career Center (Indianapolis, IN): $5,000

Knoxville I-CAR Committee

  • TCAT (Knoxville, TN): $5,000
  • TCAT (Morristown, TN): $5,000
  • Greene Technical Center (Greeneville, TN): $2,500

Nashville I-CAR Committee

  • Lincoln College of Technology (Nashville, TN): $5,000
  • Northwest High School (Clarksville, TN): $13,000

Palm Beach I-CAR Committee

  • South Tech Academy (Boynton Beach, FL): $5,000

Phoenix I-CAR Committee

  • East Valley Institute of Technology (Mesa, AZ): $10,000
  • Gateway Community College Central City Campus (Phoenix, AZ): $10,000
  • West-MEC (Phoenix, AZ): $5,000

 

St. Louis I-CAR Committee

  • Lewis and Clark Career Center (St. Charles, MO): $2,500
  • North Technical High School (Florissant, MO): $2,500
  • South Technical High School (Sunset Hills, MO): $2,500

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.

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CREF Develops Collision Career Awareness, Pathing and Readiness Initiatives, Funded by GM Grant

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (October 11, 2022) –

When GM awarded the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) with a $100,000 grant for 2022, the Foundation made good use of the funds to develop its Career Opportunity Awareness Initiative, a project that seeks to increase the number of collision repair students who graduate with marketable technical skills by tackling the challenging dilemma from three specific angles: career awareness, career pathing and career readiness. And CREF exceeded expectations in every area!

“General Motors is proud to support the Collision Repair Education Foundation,” said Terry Rhadigan, vice president of Corporate Giving at GM. “CREF’s work to increase awareness of career opportunities in the collision repair industry will help attract talent and connect the future workforce to the resources and trainings needed to launch a career in this field.”

CREF began by highlighting the collision repair industry as a viable and valuable career to school counselors, educators, parents and other influencers during the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Conference in July 2022 where CREF engaged in “meaningful conversations with counselors from all 50 states,” according to Amber Ritter, director of marketing and project management for the Foundation. Participating in the event allowed CREF to directly educate over 4,000 school counselors on the multitude of career opportunities available within the collision industry…and also to indirectly promote that message to approximately 100,000 additional students those education professionals will encounter in the 2022-2023 school year alone!

“We also gained valuable insights on the challenges schools face in keeping these programs open, with many citing the largest challenges as finding instructors and paying them well enough to retain them,” Ritter adds. “Additionally, we connected with non-profit organizations for other trades, and we plan to assess ways we can further collaborate and best communicate the opportunities that exist within the skilled trades.”

The Foundation addressed career pathing by utilizing industry and student feedback to design and create Career Awareness banners which were distributed to 125 schools, serving to educate over 5,000 students on the multitude of opportunities that exist within the collision repair industry.

Career readiness and job preparation videos were created to “provide schools with resources to recruit and to provide students with the resources they need to become collision professionals,” Ritter shares. Instead of creating five videos as intended, CREF developed a series of seven videos which were shot in an on-site shop studio and in live shop environments, using “former students now working in the industry who were willing to share their real-world experiences and stories in an informative and relatable way.”

All aspects of the Career Opportunity Awareness Initiative were so successful that CREF plans to continue growing them through industry sponsorships, but the Foundation is still identifying new ways to connect students with collision careers. CREF was recently approved for a third GM grant which will continue to fund its Support and Connect Project.

 “Although there is a large demand for talent in many segments of the collision industry, there are many barriers to entry,” Ritter laments. “Two specific barriers are entry-level training and awareness of career opportunities. Programs lack funding to effectively teach their programs and ensure equipment is maintained and updated. They also struggle to increase enrollment to meet the industry’s demands for qualified help. Enrollment in collision programs has decreased by 22% in the past five years, and though collision repair schools across the country are working very hard to alleviate these barriers, they cannot do it alone.”

CREF’s Support and Connect Project hopes to further support collision students and schools by building on its Benchmark Grant program, and it seeks to connect by deepening the Foundation’s relationships with school guidance counselors through the creation and dissemination of informational materials to be shared with students and parents.

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.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at www.gm.com.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.