The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced that a record amount of 140 high school and college collision school programs from 33 states applied for the foundation’s 2015 $50,000 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant. A full listing of the Makeover applicant schools is available online. Through their participation with this grant, the foundation will be focused on helping these collision school programs by securing items on their itemized $50,000 collision wish lists. The applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of industry volunteers, and the winners will be announced during the foundation’s industry reception Nov. 3rd at the SEMA Show.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation will be awarding a $50,000 Makeover grant to one high school and one college collision program. The grants will be in the names of Allstate Insurance and State Farm Insurance, honoring those companies for their continued support of the foundation.

The industry has the opportunity to help provide additional Makeover school grants this fall by making tax-deductible donations to the foundation.

“For every 100 industry companies that each donate $500 to the Education Foundation this year, we could provide an additional $50,000 Makeover school grant this fall and help a collision school program with needed tools, equipment and supplies,” said Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode.

Added Director of Grant Programs Melissa Marscin, “We are excited to see the record amount of collision school programs participating in the Makeover grant this year, and the industry should take note of the increasing amount of schools who are asking for assistance. In order for these programs to graduate qualified and skilled entry-level collision students that the industry is seeking, the industry needs to take an active role within the programs through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The instructors who took the time to apply should be commended.”