The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Benchmark Grant program provides financial support to schools training the next generation of collision repair professionals.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Benchmark Grant program has awarded funding to 109 collision repair schools across the United States. With a total of $668,500 in grants, these schools will receive financial support to enhance their educational offerings and better prepare students for careers in the collision repair industry. The grants were made possible through the generosity of industry partners and will help bridge the gap between limited program budgets and the need for quality technical education.
Commitment to Education and Industry Support
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) expressed its gratitude to the industry partners who contributed to the Benchmark Grant program. The grants will enable collision schools to provide a quality technical education for their students and prepare them for entry-level employment in the industry. The commitment of these partners highlights their dedication to supporting the next generation of collision repair professionals.
Generous Donations from Industry Partners
Several industry partners made significant contributions to the Benchmark Grant program. General Motors (GM) donated $40,000, allowing eight collision schools to receive $5,000 grants each. Hertz also donated $40,000, benefiting eight collision schools with grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Caliber Collision, Fix Auto USA, Nationwide Insurance, Crash Champions, LKQ Corporation, National Coatings & Supplies (NCS)/Single Source, Axalta, CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC), Classic Collision, Copart, Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Gerber Collision & Glass, Driven Brands Collision, Farmers Insurance, The Development Solutions Group, Hayes Chrysler Dodge, J.W. Bagley Foundation, OEM1Stop, PartsTrader, Stellantis, and the Adelmann Family Foundation all made generous donations to support collision repair education programs.
Impact on Individual Schools
The Benchmark Grants will have a tangible impact on individual schools across the country. For example, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School in Massachusetts received a $25,000 grant from CREF, while North Arkansas College and SUNY Morrisville were awarded grants of $20,000 and $6,000, respectively. The grants will enable these schools to enhance their educational offerings and provide students with a competitive advantage in the collision repair industry.
Collaboration with I-CAR Committees
In collaboration with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, 14 I-CAR Committees raised funds totaling $234,500. These funds will support 32 secondary and post-secondary schools across the United States. Each school will receive a Benchmark Grant ranging from $2,500 to $20,000, depending on their specific needs.
Conclusion:
The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Benchmark Grant program has provided critical financial support to over 100 collision repair schools across the United States. Thanks to the generosity of industry partners, these grants will help bridge the gap between limited program budgets and the need for quality technical education. The grants will enhance the educational offerings of these schools and better prepare students for successful careers in the collision repair industry. As the industry continues to evolve, the support from these grants will play a vital role in shaping the future of collision repair education.
