CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is supporting 3M’s efforts in partnering with the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Hire Our Heroes campaign. The initiative provides scholarships and support for collision repair training, with a goal of driving employment to the collision repair industry for America’s returning veterans.
The enrollment to win scholarship funds from the Collision Repair Education Foundation opened on Jan. 1, 2013, and scholarship enrollment opportunities remain open through May 15, 2013.
The 3M Hire Our Heroes program also will help fund rehabilitation for the wounded veterans through Operation Comfort’s Automotivation program, an automotive skill-based rehabilitation program. It provides opportunities for wounded soldiers to channel their automotive skills – or learn new ones – to restore vehicles through the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program for other military veterans. The campaign will be raising funds for its new facility in San Antonio, Texas.
“This is a great way to support our service men and women from all branches of the military who defend our great nation,” said Scott Blake, owner of Blake’s CARSTAR Collision Center in LaPorte, Ind. “My first estimate of the day recently was for a USAA claimant on a 2010 Dodge Laramie pickup truck. As I was writing the estimate, he picked up the Hire Our Heroes desk display and asked what the Hire Our Heroes Program was all about. I explained that this was presented by 3M and our shop was a supporting member of the program. The customer then advised that he wanted to leave the vehicle with us for repairs. I truly believe that our participation in this program helped the customer decide to have us do the repairs.”
Participating CARSTAR shop owners throughout the United States are helping support the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign with their use of 3M products. For every qualifying purchase of select 3M products by a shop owner, 3M will contribute to the campaign, with a goal of $250,000 total.
CARSTAR owners who participate in the program receive 3M Hire Our Heroes promotional materials for their shops to show their support of our country’s veterans.
“We’re proud of our network of CARSTAR store owners around the country who honor our nation’s military members with their support of programs like 3M Hire Our Heroes, along with their work on NABC’s Recycled Rides and CARSTAR’s annual Military Month in November,” said David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR.
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