With the end of
the calendar year approaching, in the face of decreasing funding for
vo-tech schools, the Collision Repair Education Foundation is asking the
industry to make a donation to ensure that the technicians of tomorrow
have the proper training, tools and equipment to adequately prepare themselves for careers in collision repair.
The following is an
open letter to the industry from Scott Kruger, executive director of
development of the Collision Repair Education Foundation; Brandon Eckenrode, associate
director of development; and Melissa Marscin, assistant director of grant programs:
Since 2008, when the Collision Repair Education
Foundation became a purely philanthropic organization supporting secondary and
post-secondary collision programs nationwide, we've been able to provide more than
$5 million in support to this group in the form of student scholarships, school
grants and product/equipment donations. This incredible amount of support has
only been made possible through the generosity of our industry supporters and
donors. At a time when schools' lack of funding is making national news, our
industry is coming to the aid of its future professionals like never before.
With the end of the calendar year approaching, on behalf
of secondary and post-secondary collision repair schools, students and
instructors nationwide, we extend an invitation to all industry members to
consider a monetary and/or in-kind product donation to the Collision Repair
Education Foundation to support schools that promote, qualify and properly
train entry-level employees for the collision industry. Please note that when
requesting a "donation," that does include product donations. Schools
are in desperate need of tools, equipment and supplies for their collision
programs. Also, as the Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization, your donations are tax-deductible.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation's focus is to
foster a collision industry where there are a sufficient number of qualified,
properly trained and immediately productive entry-level employees to meet the
current and future needs of the industry. We accomplish this through grants that encourage schools to meet
industry needs by strengthening the basic skills taught in collision repair
programs and providing the capital investment needed to train the next
generation of repair technicians. We also provide scholarships for collision
students that lower barriers to education, promote opportunities for a diverse
workforce, and reward dedication and passion for their trade.
Our $50,000 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant
honors a high-performing school that has been doing an outstanding job in
educating students in collision repair, but needs some financial assistance to
improve their program's teaching materials and equipment. Since the first
Makeover grant was awarded in 2009, through the generosity of the
organization's supporters, the Makeover applicant schools (winning and
non-winning) have received more than $600,000 in donations.
All of this support has been made possible only through
the more than 1,500 corporations, businesses, associations and individuals who
have donated to the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
We ask that you consider making an end-of-year
tax-deductible monetary and/or product donation to the Collision Repair
Education Foundation, as it is a direct investment in the future of the
collision industry. Thanks again for your consideration.
More information:
Industry members interested in donating to the Collision Repair
Education Foundation can contact Associate Director of Development
Brandon Eckenrode (
Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org) for more information.
Collision Repair Education Foundation