Audatex, A Solera company, is looking to help enhance the future of the automotive collision repair industry by offering a $25,000 matching grant to provide one California school’s collision program with an Ultimate Collision Education Makeover through the Collision Repair Education Foundation this fall, which will fulfill the program’s $50,000 wish-list. Audatex will match individual and business tax-deductible donations to the Education Foundation (up to $25,000), and a California secondary or post-secondary school’s collision program will be selected from the applicants of the Foundation’s 2011 Makeover school grant. Funding of Audatex’s California matching grant is part of the $100,000 donation to the Collision Repair Education Foundation in 2010 by Solera and their CEO Tony Aquila, the largest cash donation ever received by the not-for-profit organization.
Since 2009, the Collision Repair Education Foundation has offered its annual Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant, for which one secondary or post-secondary school’s collision program is selected nationwide. Over the past two years, over 80 schools have applied for this grant, and through this support opportunity, collision students’ education has been enhanced to allow them to become productive, efficient and capable future professionals of the inter-industry. Both the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s annual Makeover grant winner and Audatex’s California winning school will be announced during SEMA 2011 this fall in Las Vegas.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Audatex and the industry to make a real difference in the lives of thousands of students through a school Makeover," said Rick Tuuri, VP of Industry Relations for Audatex. “Schools and students are the future of our industry, and Audatex is committed to the future. We look forward to working with our industry partners to make a difference for a worthy school and the students.”
Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Scott Kruger said, “I commend Audatex for helping the Education Foundation expand the Makeover school grant program and help transform one California school’s collision program that will benefit current and future students for years to come. This grant will significantly assist one California school’s collision program with needed tools, equipment, and supplies. Audatex has put the challenge out to the industry to match their $25,000 and through others stepping up and participating with this program, the industry can come together to support its own future.”
Industry members are asked to respond to this matching grant opportunity by Friday, Sept. 30.
Send contributions with checks payable to:
Collision Repair Education Foundation
Attn: Audatex Matching Grant
5125 Trillium Blvd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
