The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced that, in 2014, the collision industry provided more than $13 million in donations to high school and college collision school programs through the foundation. More than $30 million has been provided since 2008 when the foundation began its philanthropic focus of assisting collision school programs, and the organization has seen a 4,300-percent increase in donations since $300,000 was raised in 2008. In continuing its efforts to be a lean and responsible charitable organization, the foundation was able to return more than 90 cents of every dollar donated toward supporting the school programs, instructors and students in 2014.

“The industry showed its true generosity again in 2014 as we were able to announce another record-breaking year in support to the collision school programs,” said Clark Plucinski, Collision Repair Education Foundation executive director. “To provide over $13 million in donations through a group of roughly 250 total donors this past year was truly awe-inspiring, and the gratitude that these instructors and students displayed touches you deeply. We have heard from the industry that they are in desperate need of properly trained entry-level graduates, and we will continue to work toward that goal on behalf of the industry.”

Terry Fortner, Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees chairman and LKQ Corp vice president of Industry Relations and Market Development, added, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff and the collision school programs that we support nationwide, I would like to thank our 2014 donors in joining efforts to support the future professionals of the industry. Only through the industry coming together to help these collision school programs can we have a significant impact on ensuring that the students receive the best technical education possible with the end goal being their employment within the industry. I would also invite companies that aren’t currently supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation through monetary and/or in-kind product donations to reach out to us and join our efforts in 2015.”