HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – A record 126 collision school programs from 36 states have applied for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2013 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant in hopes that they will have their $50,000 wish list of needed collision program tools, equipment and supplies fulfilled.
Seventy schools had applied for the makeover grant the previous two years and this record amount displays collision schools’ growing need of support in order to provide the best technical education possible and better prepare students for entry-level employment, according to the foundation.
The winning schools will be announced this fall. However, industry members are encouraged to get involved with their local makeover applicant schools by directing monetary contributions toward fulfilling portions of the local school’s submitted wish list.
Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski noted, “I would like to thank and congratulate these makeover applicant schools for taking the time to complete the application. Having each school’s itemized $50,000 wish list, the Education Foundation will not only support the 2013 makeover winners but will also be aggressively working toward assisting the other 2013 applicant schools by distributing their wish lists of needed tools, equipment, and supplies to industry companies and asking for those items to be donated. I invite and encourage industry members to contact the Education Foundation if they are interested in connecting with a local applicant school and start taking an active role in their collision program.”
Industry organizations wishing to direct a monetary support to any of these collision programs and help fulfill portions of their $50,000 wish lists should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at [email protected] or 847-463-5244.
To learn more about the Education Foundation and its nationwide efforts to support collision instructors and the future professionals of the collision industry can visit www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
