The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced that the application for their Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant is now available for high school and post-secondary collision school programs to apply. The  program is in its seventh year and – new this year – the two annual makeover grants will be in the names of Allstate Insurance and State Farm Insurance, honoring the companies for their continued support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation:

• 2015 Secondary Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant made possible by Allstate Insurance
• 2015 Post-Secondary Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant made possible by State Farm Insurance

Instructors are advised to begin the application early, and industry professionals are encouraged to get involved with the makeover grant by working with their local schools’ collision instructors to help them apply. The makeover grant is available to high school and college collision school programs nationwide, with priority going to not-for-profit/public schools. The winning schools will be announced during the 2015 SEMA Show.

“Those collision school programs that complete the makeover application are at the top of our priority list to assist as they have taken the time to complete the application and provide us with their itemized collision wish list,” said Director of Grant Program Melissa Marscin. “It is because of this that we highly encourage collision industry members to help get their local schools involved so that they don’t miss out on the millions of dollars in donations that the Education Foundation provides every year through our supporters.”

As part of the makeover grant application, schools provide their own itemized wish list, which can include any tools, supplies and equipment that are needed by the collision program. The organization’s Board of Trustees Selection Committee will select the winners of the awards and determine what items off the wish lists each school will receive.

The goal of the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant is to honor a 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. With strained school budgets, the Education Foundation and industry supporters have the opportunity to bridge the program’s financial gap and to make a difference in the lives of the students studying collision repair.

The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant applications are available online and are due by Friday, May 29. Industry members are encouraged to work with their local collision school programs to ensure they apply by the deadline. Industry members interested in getting involved with the foundation and joining its efforts to support the future of the collision industry should contact Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at (847) 463.5244 or [email protected].