Funds will support pre-employment collision education opportunities in southeastern Pennsylvania.
On Thursday, September 15, the Greater Philadelphia-area I-CAR committee held its inaugural fundraiser at the Paxon Hollow Country Club, in Media, Pa. to benefit the Collision Repair Education Foundation and local collision repair school programs. Over 100 people participated in the golf tournament, evening banquet and silent auction. Over $30,000 was raised to support the Foundation and local education initiatives to improve the availability of trained, entry-level technicians in the market.
The Inaugural Philadelphia I-CAR committee golf fundraiser on September 15 included a helicopter ball drop to raise money for the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
“I want to thank the many sponsors and individuals who participated in our tournament and banquet to support the young people entering our industry,” said Lisa Ferguson, chair of the Greater Philadelphia-area I-CAR committee. “Without the generous financial support and efforts of the industry, the event would not have been possible.”
Sponsors of the event included: Bill Flannery Automotive, Platinum Sponsor of the Event; 3D Auto Body & Collision Centers; ABRA Auto Body & Glass; Brandywine Coach Works; Caliber Collision; CCC Information Services Inc.; Conicelli Dealerships; Dent Wizard; Don Houck Automotive Group; Elite Electronics; Enterprise Rent-a-Car; Faulkner Collision Centers, Inc. ; Fred Beans Auto Group; Innovative Solutions & Technology; Pro Spot; K & S Towing; The Great Britains; YourMercedes.com; Mickey’s Suburban Alignment /Vince Iacone’s Sunoco; Norton ; PPG; UniCure Spraybooths.
In our video interview below, Mike LeVasseur, Director of Corporate Development, ABRA Auto Body & Glass, explained the genesis of the event and how the group hopes to improve the pool of young people entering the industry.
According to LeVasseur, the committee is working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and three schools in Chester County, Pa. to help improve their facilities and curriculum. Proceeds from this event will be used to support the Technical College High School (TCHS) Pickering Campus in Phoenixville, Pa. TCHS Pickering is a four-year, comprehensive public high school and Career & Technical Education Center accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Students in grades nine through 12 may enroll in Pickering’s career and technical education programs and academic courses, providing a rigorous foundation needed for college success, career readiness and life-long learning.
Clark Plucinski, executive director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, thanked the committee for its fundraising effort and challenged other local groups to reach out to schools in their market to help improve the prospects for young people entering the industry.
“The work of the Philadelphia I-CAR committee will directly benefit young people studying for a career in the collision industry by improving the facilities, equipment and curriculum in their school programs,” said Plucinski. “Their hard-work will benefit both the students and the industry, collision repairers, insurers and suppliers, that are in such desperate need of trained, entry-level employees. I urge other local groups to follow the committee’s example and launch an effort to assist collision schools in their local market.”
For more information on how you can participate on the committee or next year’s event, contact Lisa Ferguson at lferguson@abraauto.com