RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Multi Parts Supply USA Inc. of Jupiter, Fla., has donated $1,000 to fund a GAAS scholarship in honor of Mort Schwartz, long-time chairman of GAAS and proponent of the scholarship fund, and a second $1,000 donation honoring Pete and Annie Kornafel.
The company is the first to accept the matching donation challenge issued on April 1 by Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee, and his wife. The Kornafels are matching 100 percent of each donation to the GAAS Scholarship fund received before the end of the annual Symposium on Thursday, May 7, up to $15,000 in total.
“We are thrilled to match these donations, which will enable us to assist more students with GAAS awards this year,” said Kornafel. “Donors who give $1,000 or more have the privilege of naming their scholarship award. It is fitting that Multi Parts Supply USA has chosen to name one of its scholarship for Mort to recognize his tireless efforts over the years in promoting the GAAS scholarships. Annie and I are deeply touched by the scholarship in our honor.”
“Getting people to part with their money, even for a good cause, is tough in the best of times and even more so now,” said Brian Cohn, principal of Multi Parts Supply USA. “Reading about Pete and Annie’s generosity in matching these grants inspired my father, Barry, and me to action. We are pleased to honor Mort and the Kornafels for their selfless dedication to the betterment of our industry in this way.”
“We now have more than 300 completed applications from students for the 2009-2010 scholarship awards,” Kornafel noted. “We urge more aftermarket companies and individuals to follow example of Barry and Brian Cohn and accept this challenge. By joining together in this effort, our industry will ensure that we are able to assist as many of these future aftermarket employees as possible in reaching their goals.”
For 2009, additional funding has been pledged by:
• Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund
• ASE / Michael Busch Memorial Scholarships
• Breslow Foundation Scholarships
• Leadership Development Network of AAIA (LDN)
• R.L. Polk & Co.
• Udell Family Charitable Foundation
• University of the Aftermarket Foundation
• Zurich
Contributions can be made to the GAAS Scholarship Fund, c/o Susan Medick at AAIA, at 301-654-6664, or [email protected]. Donor cards also will be issued to attendees at GAAS, slated for Wednesday and Thursday, May 6-7, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago. Program details and online registration are available at www.globalsymposium.org.
