The Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) has pledged to raise $250,000 in in-kind product donations for North Carolina and South Carolina high school and college collision school programs over the summer through the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF).
These donations, tax-deductible through CREF, include spare parts (fenders, bumper covers, etc), tools, equipment, paint, consumables and other types of items that will assist instructors who face program budget constraints. Donations will be collected and organized over the summer, then be distributed to the collision programs when they return for the fall school semester.
“While many businesses may not be in a position to contribute monetary donations as they navigate through these times, they may be able to help by donating needed items to collision programs,” said Josh Kent, executive director of CCA. “If there is an expectation from the industry that graduating collision students have the proper skills and technical education to be productive entry-level staff, the industry needs to help ensure instructors have the resources to provide that quality technical education. The Carolinas Collision Association members and industry contacts will work hard over the summer to gather as much support as possible to help our states collision school programs.”
Added Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode, “I commend the Carolinas Collision Association for coming together to help their local collision programs as this type of support is needed now more than ever. This will be quite the ‘back to school’ gift for the collision instructors and students and a wonderful way to start off the new school semester.”
Industry members interested in joining the CCA and CREF in supporting North Carolina and South Carolina high school and college collision programs can contact Josh Kent at [email protected] or Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed foundation.org.
For additional information about the CCA, visit CarolinasCollisionAssociation.com.
