I-CAR expanded its support of collision schools and students, making a $225,000 donation to the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The contribution was made as part of I-CAR’s 40th Anniversary Volunteer & Instructor Conference held March 1-3 in Orlando, Fla. The financial contribution by I-CAR is in addition to the support to the Education Foundation’s mission by local I-CAR committees across the country. The monetary contribution assists Education Foundation’s ability to offer collision school tool, equipment and instructor training grants and student scholarships across the U.S.
I-CAR continued its support of the collision industry pre-employment education system with a $225,000 donation to the Collision Repair Education Foundation. (L-R) John Van Alstyne, I-CAR CEO & President, presented the donation to Jeanne Silver, from Butterfield Bodyworks CARSTAR and the chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees, Clark Plucinski, executive director of the Foundation and Brandon Eckenrode, director of development, during the I-CAR 40th Anniversary Volunteer & Instructor Conference in Orland, Fla on March 2.
“On behalf of the industry, I-CAR is pleased to make this contribution that helps bolster the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s ongoing commitment to providing students with grants and scholarships that launch their careers in the collision repair industry,” said I-CAR CEO & President John Van Alstyne. “Today’s students will drive our industry tomorrow, and we applaud the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s longtime focus on expanding and promoting quality collision repair educational opportunities for them. Our two organizations have a close relationship, and we are excited to help shape the future together.”
I-CAR’s support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation is longstanding and continues to grow. The Foundation began operating in 1991 as the I-CAR Education Foundation to address the collision industry need for qualified entry-level employees by support career and technical schools and colleges. Today, the Collision Repair Education Foundation provides support to schools with more than 20,000 students studying for a career in the industry.
Since 2012, I-CAR has provided financial donations to the Foundation totaling more than $1.3 million dollars; I-CAR’s source of funding for these donations is the accrual of a portion of annual industry training proceeds, which is why I-CAR refers to this donation as being “on behalf of the industry.” The funds assist the Foundation in its mission to support collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation Benchmark grant supports collision schools and instructors by providing tool, equipment and instructor training support. In 2018, the Foundation provided more than $500,000 to schools through the Benchmark Grant. This spring, the Foundation will award more than $200,000 in scholarships to students studying for a career in the collision industry. Last year, ten local I-CAR committees raised funds to support student scholarships through the Foundation.
Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski said, “The Collision Repair Education Foundation literally would not exist without the foresight and investment by I-CAR on behalf of the collision industry to support collision schools and students across the country. Since our founding in 1991, I-CAR staff, its volunteers and its board and industry supporters have worked side by side with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support the pre-employment education system the industry relies upon for its future workforce. I want to personally congratulate I-CAR as it celebrates its 40 years of service to the industry.”
Members of local I-CAR committees, collision repair facilities, insurance companies and suppliers interested in supporting school grants should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at (312) 231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.