Press Release

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (June 18, 2019) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced it launch a program this summer to provide 100 collision repair schools with new flooring. The #100Floors75Days project seeks to build relationships between the local collision industry and their collision repair schools by providing the materials necessary to refinish the schools floors during the summer break. The freshly refinished floors will increase the professional appearance of school collision programs, helping to attract students to careers in the collision industry.

The Foundation has identified 100 schools in 23 states in need of new floor coatings. A complete list of schools is available online at: https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/2019/06/100floors75days/

The list includes the cost to adopt a school to provide the epoxy coatings necessary to refinish the floors in the collision repair work space. The schools will apply the coating over the summer while school is not in session.

Sponsoring companies will be recognized on a banner presented to the school.

The Foundation plans to continue the effort during the winter break and help additional schools.

“Collision repair training programs compete with other skilled trades for the next generation of employees. Improving the appearance of high school and college collision schools reflects the professionalism of the collision industry and improves the quality of students seeking pre-employment training,” said Brandon Eckenrode, director of development for the Collision Repair Education Foundation. “Improving the image of our school programs will benefit the industry that is increasingly viewed as a high technology, high growth career field.

Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s roster of supporters to assist high school and post-secondary collision school programs and students should contact Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org

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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

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.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – May 28, 2019 –TechForce Foundation, in partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), awarded three collision repair students with scholarships funded through a TechForce Foundation FutureTech Success Grant. Winners were selected from a pool of students who demonstrated a passion for learning and an affinity for the collision repair industry based on their participation in the scholarship’s selection process.

Each winner received $2,000 that can be used to continue their education in the collision repair industry.

This year’s scholarship winners include:

• Hanife Manning of Guilford Technical Community College in Greensboro, N.C.
• Dilan Miller of City College in Billings, Mont.
• Larmar Tillery of Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, N.C.

 “The transportation industry needs on average more than 15,000 new collision repair technicians each year, but tech schools are only graduating one third of that number,” says Jennifer Maher, Executive Director, TechForce Foundation. “TechForce Foundation is proud to partner with organizations, including the Collision Repair Education Foundation, to solve this industry-wide challenge. By supporting collision repair students like Hanife, Dilan and Larmar, TechForce and CREF are working together to champion the next generation of transportation technicians and keep America rolling. Congratulations to the scholarship winners!”

 Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s supporters, and assisting high school and post-secondary collision school programs and students should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

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About TECHFORCE Foundation:

TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $2 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and spearheads FutureTech Success^®, the industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforcefoundation.org.

About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

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.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (May 20, 2019) – Registration for the 18th Annual Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by the automotive refinish business unit of PPG, is selling out fast. The event will be held Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019. Golfers will enjoy a round of golf at Brickyard Crossing Golf Course in Indianapolis, Ind., voted in Top 100 American Public Golf Courses by Golf Digest and Golfweek. This course has 4 holes inside the oval and 14 holes adjacent to the backstretch of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The event supports the Education Foundation in its mission to provide support for collision repair programs at high school and colleges across North America.

Participants can register online through the Education Foundation’s website.

(https://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/collision-education-foundation-golf-tournament/)

Brandon Eckenrode, Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development, said, “We urge everyone who wishes to participate in this year’s golf fundraiser to register early. This is an incredible event that helps us raise funds to provide crucial support to collision school programs across the country.”

Registration for the fundraiser includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, beverages and snacks on the course, lunch, dinner, promotional items, and opportunities to participate in contests throughout the day.

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About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

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.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (May 17, 2019) – The Greater Philadelphia-area I-CAR Committee will host its 4th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 to bring industry business partners together, show appreciation for their ongoing support, and to bring awareness to the needs of local technical schools and programs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. All donations will benefit the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of area high school and college collision repair programs. The event will take place at the Penn Oaks Golf Club, 150 Penn Oaks Drive in West Chester, Pa.

The presenting sponsor for the event is PPG.

The registration fee for individual golfers is $175 or a team of four golfers costs $700. Supporters can also choose to attend the reception only for $75. Complete details on the event, sponsorship and online registration is available at:

https://icar-philadelphia.weebly.com/

“To better prepare students for a career in the collision industry, for the last several years the Greater Philadelphia I-CAR committee has engaged with our local schools and colleges to assist them in improving their programs and keeping them up to date with the latest technology, said Lisa Ferguson from Caliber Collision and the volunteer state chair for I-CAR in Pennsylvania. “The funds we raise at this event will help us aid the schools that will be crucial to the success of the collision industry’s next generation.”   

For more information on the event or sponsorship, contact Lisa Ferguson at lisa.ferguson@calibercollision.com or via phone at (610)368-0503.

About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

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.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (May 16, 2019) – 3M and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) announced the establishment of the 3M and CREF Grant; Growing the Collision Education Programs of Tomorrow. The new grant program, funded by 3M, will provide two collision schools in markets where 3M has facilities with $10,000 each to support the advancement of their programs. The local 3M community will also work to help the schools that receive the grant.

The two schools that will receive the grant include:

• Greenville Technical College, a CREF Benchmark Tier 1 school in Greenville, S.C.; and
• South Central College, a CREF Benchmark Tier 2 school in North Mankato, Minn.

The grant funds will be used to pay for tools and equipment to enhance the training opportunities they provide to the next generation of collision industry professionals studying in the schools. The grant will enable South Central College to achieve the CREF Benchmark Tier 1 status.

“We are excited about this opportunity to continue our support of CREF and the communities in which 3M has a large presence,” said Kelly Lunder, U.S. Channel Marketing Manager for the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “We are committed to career and technical education and advancement for the men and women enrolled in these programs.”

“The grants available to these two schools will provide funds needed to help these colleges advance their collision programs to meet the needs of the collision industry’s future workforce,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations and Administration for the Foundation. “I want to thank 3M for working with the Foundation to enhance these programs as they prepare students to enter the industry with the training necessary to succeed.”

The Foundation’s Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark that was launched in 2017. Under the program developed by the Foundation, schools are classified into three tiers:

• Tier 1: Advanced,
• Tier 2: Proficient, or
• Tier 3: Developing.

The designation is determined by the Foundation based upon information provided by schools about the capabilities of their program detailed in the Collision Repair Education Foundation Benchmark grant application. The criteria for each level includes the number of hours of instruction, curriculum in place, along with what tools, equipment, and supplies a school uses to prepare their students for employment in the collision industry.

If there is something that a school needs to advance to the next level, the Education Foundation’s grant programs allow schools to request that particular item. The goal is to help every school acquire the resources to eventually achieve a Tier 1: Advanced school designation. Schools already at Tier 1 status, like Greenville Technical College, can request support for items that further advance and expand their program.

Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s roster of supporters to assist high school and post-secondary collision school programs and students should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org

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About 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division:

3M automotive products keep the world on the move, with innovative solutions for building, repairing and maintaining vehicles.  From the collision repair professional to the individual vehicle enthusiast, people around the world trust 3M products to protect, repair and keep their vehicles looking showroom new.  And our commitment to this industry extends beyond product performance to a careful stewardship of the world’s resources and environment. Serving the needs of our customers has made 3M a trusted leader in vehicle care and repair, and we are dedicated to earning that trust each and every day. 

For more information, contact 1-877-MMM-CARS, contact your local 3M Distributor or 3M Sales Representative or visit the website at www.3Mcollision.com.  Follow 3M Collision Repair Solutions on Facebook, on twitter @3M_Collision and Instagram @3MCollision.

About 3M

At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $33 billion in sales, our 93,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

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.

Hoffman Estates, IL – May 3, 2019 – A fundraiser and a surprise scholarship benefited Tennessee collision students in April. With collision professionals from across the country in Nashville for industry meetings, the local I-CAR Committee used the opportunity to surprise one hard-working collision student, Zac Stephens with a full scholarship.

During the scholarship presentation, Kyle Medeiros from Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Chairman of the Nashville I-CAR committee said, “We’re inspired by your (Zac’s) passion and commitment in the industry and life in general.”

Stephens hopes to run his own repair shop one day, with a focus on honesty. After he thanked I-CAR and the Foundation for his scholarship, they shared a quote from his application essay.

“My goal in the industry is to bring a whole new outlook on auto body shops. I hope to eventually start my own business that focuses on the honesty of the employees and the quality of the finished product,” wrote Stephens in his application for a scholarship from the Foundation, “When I’m the most trusted in the business, you will be content in knowing that you helped me get there.

Medeiros said, “This scholarship is going to allow Zac Stephens to step into the industry without a financial burden, which we hope propels him to reach his dreams quicker. We decided to erase 100 percent of his debt because of his excellence in the classroom (3.94 GPA) plus his story was inspiring. He has a true passion for this industry and is committed to a future in it.”

Past scholarship recipients in Tennessee have benefited from the work of the local I-CAR committee’s fundraising efforts. Morris Rothfeldt, Jr., a Nashville scholarship recipient from 2017, said, “Earning a merit based CREF scholarship assured me that I was not only pursuing something I loved, but that my passion assured results. I think most everyone wants to be good at what they do, that means so much more when you do what you love, especially when more lucrative opportunities avail themselves.”

The local I-CAR committee also held a TopGolf fundraiser on Tuesday, April 16, the night before the other industry meetings started. The funds from TopGolf will benefit the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of Nashville area high school and college collision repair programs. The Nashville I-CAR committee, in conjunction with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, offers tool grants and scholarships to local students every spring.

“TopGolf was an amazing experience,” said Medeiros, “It was our first year hosting the fundraiser at TopGolf. The demand to be a part of the event was overwhelming and we ended up with 200+ attendees from all different avenues in our industry.”

The annual tool grant and scholarship is open to collision repair students in Tennessee.

Medeiros said, “It’s no secret that our industry faces a technician shortage in the near future. Our committee wants to make sure we’ve done everything possible to change that narrative in our local market. Investing in our local schools and students is the first step in that change.”

Collision repair scholarships continue to make a difference in student’s lives after graduation.

“The scholarship made it easier for me to afford an education and be able to support my dreams after college,” said Crystal Burt, a 2017 scholarship recipient, “Right after graduation in August 2017 I was able to acquire a job at Camping World in Anniston as a collision technician where I worked till October of 2018. I was then promoted to OEM parts Coordinator for the location and that Is where I still am working today.”

The Nashville I-CAR committee and the Repair Education Foundation aim to help those interested in collision repair achieve their goals through scholarships, grants, educational funding, and connecting young talent with career opportunities.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to securing donations that support philanthropic and collision repair education activities that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry.

Industry members interested in joining the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s supporters, and assisting high school and post-secondary collision school programs should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUGGESTED CAPTION: Zac Stephens (right) received a $14,000 scholarship from Brandon Eckenrode, director of development for the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The scholarship, that eliminates Stephens’ student debt, was made possible through the fundraising efforts of the Nashville I-CAR committee.

About the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

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.