RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – The Breslow Foundation has made a five-year, $50,000 pledge to the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Fund. Each year the money will be used to provide five $2,000 scholarships to students in the automotive aftermarket and performance markets.

The scholarships honor the late Barry Breslow, an active participant in the automotive aftermarket for many years. Breslow, who passed way in December 2005, was one of the original owners of Autospecialty Inc. and a former chairman of the Auto International Association (AIA), now a segment within Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). He also was a member of the AIA Hall of Fame and a past recipient of the AIA Person of the Year.

“Barry strongly supported the goals of education,” said Wendy Breslow, widow of Barry Breslow. “We feel that by establishing this scholarship, we’re helping to honor his memory and all the things for which he worked.”

“Our goal is to encourage fresh faces with new and innovative ideas, who may be undecided on an industry career path, to enter the automotive aftermarket and make a positive contribution,” said Eric Breslow, Breslow’s son.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Eric Breslow founded Power Performance Group Inc. in 1997. Located in Chatsworth, CA, the company supplies both the traditional parts aftermarket and performance market with its POWERSLOT premium and performance brake rotors.

“We are pleased that Wendy and Eric have selected the GAAS scholarship fund to pay tribute to Barry,” said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee. “What better way to recognize his contributions to the aftermarket than by investing in the future of the automotive aftermarket, both the traditional and performance markets.”

The scholarships will be available to applicants attending four year colleges or universities and majoring in engineering or business. The funds will be awarded to students with demonstrated financial need who are planning to pursue careers in either the traditional automotive aftermarket or the automotive performance market. All GAAS applicants who meet these preferred criteria will automatically be eligible to be considered for these scholarships.

For more information on the GAAS scholarship program, visit: http://www.automotivescholarships.com.