Orland Park, IL – The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) is raising funds for 2007 scholarships through a new program. GAAS is asking industry members to purchase a commemorative "Our Future Runs on GAAS Scholarships" pin and make a minimum donation of $20.

Since 1996, GAAS has used the net proceeds of its annual symposium to fund approximately 1,500 scholarships totaling $1.1 million. The goal of the scholarships is to give financial help to students seeking careers in the aftermarket. Of the 2006 scholarship recipients, 75 percent plan to become automotive technicians and 25 percent are enrolled in four-year colleges or universities. A survey of GAAS scholarship recipients revealed that 67 percent of those who are out of school and working listed an aftermarket company as their employer. Another 18 percent are working as technicians.

Donations will be accepted at several locations at this year's Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), which takes place Oct. 31-Nov. 2, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. Pins may be purchased at the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) business centers, at the Babcox Publications booth (#4234) and the Advanstar Publications booth (#4023). Individuals from the symposium and scholarship committee – who will be wearing red "Ask Me" ribbons – will also be selling pins on the show floor, as well as at the daily industry events.

Donations may also be mailed to GAAS Scholarship Fund, AAIA, c/o Susan Medick, 7101 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1300, Bethesda, MD 20814. To contact Susan Medick, call 301-654-6664 or e-mail susan.medick@aftermarket.org.

For more information about GAAS, visit: http://www.globalsymposium.org.