Press Release

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation is proudly to announce that BASF has donated two spray guns each to 21 different schools around the country to support their collision repair education programs. Each spray gun is valued at $1,000, totaling an in-kind donation of more than $40,000, and will help to ensure that students receive the training necessary for a career in the collision repair industry. Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2019 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant. 

“It’s important to partner with industry organizations like CREF,” said Jeff Wildman, OEM Manager for BASF Refinish. “We need to ensure that the next generation of collision repair technicians have the latest tools and materials to help prepare them for their careers.”

 

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 to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to ensure that students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation.

The schools that will receive two BASF sprays guns are:

• Big Sandy Community and Technical College (Prestonsburg, KY)
• Carroll County Career and Technology Center (Westminster, MD)
• Cayuga Onondaga BOCES (Auburn, NY)
• Central Piedmont Comm College (Charlotte, NC)
• Chester County Technical College High School Pennick’s Bridge campus (West Grove, PA)
• Dennis Technical Education Center (Boise, ID)
• Eastside Technical Center (Lexington, KY)
• George Stone Technical College (Pensacola, FL)
• Hodgson Vo-Tech (Newark, DE)
• Judson High School (Converse, TX)
• Madison Oneida BOCES (Verona, NY)
• McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology (Indianapolis, IN)
• Miami Northwestern Sr High (Miami, FL)
• New Horizons (Hampton, VA)
• South Central College (North Mankato, MN)
• Technical Careers High School (Idaho Falls, ID)
• Texas Southmost College (Brownsville, TX)
• United Technical Center (Clarksburg, WV)
• Walker Career Center (Indianapolis, IN)
• Walker High School (Walker, LA)
• Wenatchee Valley Tech (Wenatchee, WA)

BASF has supported the efforts of the Collision Repair Education Foundation since 1994. For additional information about BASF, visit www.basfrefinish.com.

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.

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If you would like more information, please call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –

In a show of generosity and dedication to the future of the collision repair industry, 3M pledged $50,000 to the newly established Growing the Collision Education Programs of Tomorrow grant that it has partnered on with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and invited the industry to join their efforts to support schools striving to advance their collision training programs. The pledge was made during the Foundation’s annual reception at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel during the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev.

Mark S. Algie, Business Development Manager for 3M’s Automotive Aftermarket Division, stated, “There is a real crisis in the industry related to the shortage of qualified technicians, and supporting career and technical education can help combat this dilemma. The pace of change in automotive technology has accelerated, and it’s critically important that collision students learn the latest repair techniques using modern tools, equipment and supplies. 3M wants to give back to the automotive aftermarket industry, and our partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation helps ensure tomorrow’s collision industry workforce has the skills they need to succeed.”

3M also took the opportunity to award two $10,000 grants which were gratefully accepted by the Franklin Technology Center (Joplin, MO) and Hennepin Technical College (Eden Prairie, MN). The schools will use these grant funds to purchase tools and equipment necessary to enhance the training opportunities provided to their students and ensure students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation.

Clark Plucinski, Executive Director of the Foundation, expressed, “The grants provided to these two schools will be instrumental in helping their collision programs advance to the next level and ensure that their students graduate with the skills and confidence needed to enter the workforce. The Foundation is excited to continue its work with 3M, and we are grateful for their ongoing support and their unparalleled dedication to the collision repair industry.”

The goal of the grant is a joint industry effort, and 3M and the Foundation encourage industry members to contribute to the Growing the Collision Education Programs of Tomorrow which will provide much needed financial support for additional schools’ collision programs.

3M has supported the efforts of the Collision Repair Education Foundation since 2008 with over $10 million worth of in-kind product donations provided as well as by funding grants and supporting the Foundation’s Hire Our Heroes campaign. For additional information about 3M, visit www.3mcollision.com.

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.

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If you would like more information about this topic, please call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –

At the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Awards Ceremony during SEMA, 1stCertified Collision Centers bestowed two Thomas Coleman Memorial Grants, totaling $45,000, upon two Southern Californian schools to benefit their collision repair training programs. El Camino College (Torrance, CA) is the recipient of a $25,000 grant, while Norwalk High School (Norwalk, CA) will receive $20,000. Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the 2019 Collision Repair Education Benchmark Grant.

Norwalk High School Instructor of Automotive Collision Repair Ken Cook plans to use the funds to build ten fully equipped work stations and to buy a variety of needed tools and equipment, including a set of MIG welding pliers and a new MIG welding machine, that will prepare students to become successful entry-level employees once they graduate. In 2018, Norwalk’s collision program budget was just $1000, but despite the fiscal restraints, Cook’s students have won gold at SkillsUSA four times since 2011, and they have earned the SkillsUSA Models of Excellence Award each year since 2015.

Cook shared, “I’m still in disbelief that we secured that much money – the impact of this $20,000 is going to be amazing! New equipment creates new experiences, and it’s going to be exciting to watch everything take place! Our program has an actual wish list of tools, and now it’s a reality! We are so grateful to everybody from 1stCertified Collision Centers, for this generous grant. Your $20,000 will become a great investment in the future of my students’ lives and the collision repair industry.”

Thanks to previous grants from the Foundation, El Camino College has the tools and equipment they currently need, but Collision Instructor Pati Fairchild noticed, “There is a big disconnect in our area. High school students don’t realize what a good-paying career collision repair is, parents don’t understand the industry or want their kids to pursue it, and most local shops don’t know we exist and don’t value collision repair grads as the custom-moldable, trainable, potential star techs they want to be.”

Fairchild hopes to work with the Foundation and 1^stCertified Collision Centers to acquire the help the program needs in regard to marketing, industry outreach and event organization in hopes of increasing enrollment, student motivation levels, local shop awareness for placement and partnership and community awareness of what a modern collision repair actually entails these days. Fairchild added, “With key organizations like the Foundation and I-CAR helping maximize the message, and by involving all the local high schools and colleges with collision repair programs, I think this grant will go far toward making a good step forward in the South Bay/Los Angeles area.”

1stCertified Collision Centers fund the Thomas Coleman Memorial Grants in memory of the organization’s co-founder, partner and friend who passed in 2014 from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In honor of Coleman’s passion for ensuring the next generation of collision repair professionals received a proper education, 1stCertified Collision Centers is committed, through the Collision Repair Education Foundation, to funding an annual grant supporting Southern California secondary and post-secondary schools teaching collision repair related courses.

1stCertified Collision Centers have collaborated with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to award the Thomas Coleman Memorial Grant since 2015. For additional information about 1stCertified Collision Centers, visit www.1stcertifiedcollision.com.

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.

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If you would like more information, please call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –

Of the $250,000 in grants that the Collision Repair Education Foundation announced during its annual reception, held at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel during the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., a large portion of the grants were funded directly by industry companies that support the Foundation’s initiatives. Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2019 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 to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to ensure that students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation.

 

Melissa Marscin, director of operations/administration for the Foundation, stated, “The Collision Repair Education Foundation is proud of the industry’s dedication to supporting collision repair education and the next generation of collision repair professionals. School funding is decreasing, but industry members across the country are stepping up and filling the gap. They recognize the importance of these students receiving the best possible education because they realize that today’s students could be tomorrow’s employees in their shops.”

 

The Foundation is grateful to all the industry supporters who, through their generous donations, help ensure the future generation receives a proper education to prepare them for a successful career in the collision repair industry after graduation.

 

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.

A portion of the grants awarded by industry companies partnering with the Foundation include:

 

CARSTAR School Grants

Hammond Area Career Center (Hammond, IN): $2,500

Metropolitan Community College (Omaha, NE): $2,500

 

Enterprise Holdings Inc. School Grants

Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School (Marlboro, MA): $1,125

Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School (Charlton, MA): $1,125

 

Fix Auto School Grant and Tim Clark Memorial Scholarship

Fix Auto Puyallup School Grant – Bellingham Technical College (Bellingham, WA): $1,000

Tim Clark Memorial Scholarship – Norwalk High School (Norwalk, CA): $5,000

 

Honda Motor Co. School Grants

Cerritos College (Norwalk, CA): $4,000

Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA): $4,000

 

Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance School Grants

Greater Lowell Technical High School (Tyngsboro, MA): $2,500

Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School (Palmer, MA): $2,500

 

PPG School Grant

Rosedale Technical College (Pittsburgh, PA): $1,500

 

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 call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –

During the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Annual Reception, the Foundation was proud to announce that 11 I-CAR Committees raised funds in 2019 for grants that will benefit 39 different schools’ collision repair programs in ten states. A variety of fundraising methods were employed, generating $177,900 in funds that will aid the industry’s future generation in becoming prepared for a career in collision repair. Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2019 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant. 

 

Kyle Medeiros, Chair of the Nashville I-CAR Committee, said, “These grants, via the Foundation, help our local schools by providing them with the necessary tools and equipment to educate and train the industry’s future technicians. Involvement is important because, at the end of the day, we want to set up future generations for success. By giving back and providing them with the proper resources, we are collectively taking positive steps in seeing that future vision come to fruition.”

Gerry Poirier, Chair of the Atlanta I-CAR Committee, stated, “The benefits of the Foundation to local schools is huge. Many schools do not have the proper equipment, materials or supplies to reflect the requirements of the collision industry today. Many instructors feel like they’re on an island, trying to make these programs function. When we help guide them, both through the Foundation and locally, their eyes light up that they now have some industry support. Schools we’ve worked with have seen student count increase, due to having better direction on what the industry is looking for from these graduates and better learning methods.”

“The automotive industry needs influential people to share the future of our next generation,” added Lisa Ferguson, Chair of the Greater Philadelphia I-CAR Committee. “The best thing we can do is put time and effort into helping our youth and provide them with the tools they need to succeed. We can also help outfit the educational facilities to become better learning environments and ongoing support systems that the students will carry into their careers. Together, we can all play a part in making a difference!”

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 to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to ensure that students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation.

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 eleven I-CAR Committees and the grants they bestowed include:

Atlanta I-CAR Committee

• Athens Tech College (Athens, GA): $10,000
• Chattahoochee Technical College (Jasper, GA): $5,000
• Etowah High School (Woodstock, GA): $25,000
• Maxwell High School of Technology (Lawrenceville, GA): $5,000
• North Georgia Technical College (Clarkesville, GA): $5,000

 

Columbus Collision Education Group

• EHOVE Career Center (Milan, OH): $500
• Fort Hayes Career Center (Columbus, OH): $2,000
• Four County Career Center (Archbold, OH): $500
• Live Oaks Career Campus (Milford, OH): $500
• Miami Valley Career Center (Englewood, OH): $500
• Waite High School (Toledo, OH): $500

 

Greater Philadelphia I-CAR Committee

• Berks Career and Technology Center (Oley, PA): $2,000
• Forbes Road Career & Technical Center (Monroeville, PA): $2,100
• Northern Westmoreland Career & Technical Center (New Kensington, PA): $2,700
• Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA): $4,000
• Reading-Muhlenburg Career and Tech Center (Reading, PA): $3,700
• Western Area Career & Technical Center (Canonsburg, PA): $1,100

 

Indianapolis I-CAR Committee

• Central 9 Career Center (Greenwood, IN): $5,500

 

Knoxville I-CAR Committee

• Greene Technology Center (Greenville, TN): $7,500
• TCAT (Morristown, TN): $7,500
• TCAT (Knoxville, TN): $7,500

 

Minnesota State I-CAR Committee

• Hennepin Technical College (Eden Prairie, MN): $1,000
• Minnesota State College Southeast (Winona, MN): $1,000
• South Central College (North Mankato, MN): $1,000

 

Nashville I-CAR Committee

• Lincoln College of Technology (Nashville, TN): $5,000

 

Northern Virginia I-CAR Committee

• Chantilly High School STEM Academy (Chantilly, VA): $7,500
• Dowell J Howard Center (Winchester, VA): $7,500
• Fauquier High School (Warrenton, VA): $7,500
• MATA @ The Academies of Loudoun (Leesburg, VA): $7,500

 

Phoenix I-CAR Committee

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

 

Raleigh I-CAR Committee

• Westover High School (Fayetteville, NC): $10,000

 

St. Louis I-CAR Committee

• Lake Career & Technical Center (Camdenton, MO): $2,800
• Lewis and Clark Career Center (Saint Charles, MO): $2,800
• Nichols Career Center (Jefferson City, MO): $2,800
• North Technical High School (Florissant, MO): $2,800
• Ranken Technical College (St. Louis, MO): $2,800
• South Technical High School (Sunset Hills, MO): $2,800

 

 

 

 

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 call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –

Service King supported the Collision Repair Education Foundation and the industry at-large by awarding $25,000 worth of grant funding. Five college collision repair programs received $5,000 each to enhance their students’ experience and elevate the caliber of their graduates. Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2019 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant. 

Sean Huurman, Chief Human Resources Officer for Service King, stated, “Service King is committed to supporting growth in our industry through the development of talent. We look forward to partnering with CREF and these schools to help build the next generation of collision technicians.”

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 to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to ensure that students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation.

Service King awarded $5,000 grants to:

• Cerritos College (Norwalk, CA)
• Contra Costa College (San Pablo, CA)
• Lincoln Tech (Nashville, TN)
• Philip’s College (San Antonio, TX)
• Texas State Technical College (Waco, TX)

Service King has supported the efforts of the Collision Repair Education Foundation since 1994. For additional information about Service King, visit www.serviceking.com.

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.

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If you would like more information, please call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.