The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) wants to publicly thank the insurance industry for rallying behind it during a time when raising funds is extremely difficult.
Six insurance organizations have stepped in to offer their support, donating funds that can help CREF make good on its mission of connecting the next generation of collision repairers with education and resources to help further advance the industry at large.
Donations to CREF are down nearly 50% due to COVID-19, putting critical programs, including school grants and support, in jeopardy for 2020 and beyond.
“The industry has always placed a premium on education and investing in the next generation of collision repair professionals,” said Clark Plucinski, executive director of CREF. “With so many of our own facing difficult times, we know giving can be challenging. I would like to thank the insurance community for mobilizing to support our work and humbly call on those in position to offer their support to do so. No donation is too big or too small.”
The Collision Repair Education Fund would like to thank the following insurers for their generous 2020 donations:
- Allstate
- Erie Insurance
- Farmers Insurance
- GEICO
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Nationwide
- State Farm
- USAA
“Erie Insurance is proud to support the Collision Repair Education Foundation in their critical mission of promoting and training men and women for careers in the collision repair industry,” said Shane Wohlrabe, vice president of Material Damage Claims at Erie Insurance.
Added GEICO Associate Vice President of Claims D. Ryan West, “GEICO is extremely proud to work with CREF and their efforts to encourage and support men and women across the country who are looking for a chance to start a solid career with unlimited growth opportunities. The collision repair industry is a wonderful place to develop and match your skills to a service that is in great demand.”
CREF is committed to helping schools remain at the cutting-edge of the collision industry by providing both cash grants and in-kind product donations of state-of-the-art tools, equipment and materials. Each year through generous industry support, the foundation provides schools with access to the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover, repair information software through the Collision Repair Schools Solutions Survey and numerous product donation opportunities.
“Our school and countless students have benefitted greatly from the support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation,” said Laura Salas, collision instructor at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif. “Without access to the resources they provide, we may not have much of a program at all. Those that can support CREF will receive value back in spades, as today’s aspiring collision repair professionals are smart, motivated and ready to work. They just need the chance to keep learning.”
Industry members looking to join CREF in supporting high school and college collision programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, director of development at CREF, at [email protected].