What is success? Success is defined as reaching a goal or accomplishing one’s purpose. For the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), that purpose is to “support collision repair educational programs, schools and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities.”
And based on that purpose, it’s fair to say CREF enjoyed a lot of successes in 2022, with more than $12 million in support distributed.
“CREF is incredibly proud of everything we accomplished last year…and we accomplished a LOT,” said CREF Managing Director Brandon Eckenrode. “From school grants to scholarships to representation at various events around the country to raise awareness of the many wonderful opportunities available in this industry---none of this would have been possible without the continued support of our generous industry partners. By working together, we’re creating stronger school programs and a more qualified future workforce.”
For more than 30 years, CREF has striven to help underfunded collision education programs by providing them with the resources needed to elevate the caliber of training offered to ensure graduates are prepared to successfully begin their careers in the industry, and this goal is accomplished in several ways.
In 2022, nearly 70 collision schools received CREF Benchmark Grants, totaling $436,000 and impacting more than 35,000 students. Additionally, CREF distributed more than $10 million worth of in-kind donations, including parts, products, quarter panels, subscriptions, safety equipment and more.
Demonstrating the industry’s commitment to their future careers, CREF’s efforts also extended directly to the next generation of collision repair professionals with more than 4,000 uniforms given to students. Additionally, 46 students received nearly $150,000 in 2022 scholarships and tool grants funded by CREF and its generous supporters.
CREF also works hard to raise awareness of the multitude of career opportunities available within the collision repair industry, and last year, it addressed this initiative in a number of productive ways. During the American School Counselor Association Conference, CREF highlighted the collision repair industry as a viable and valuable career to more than 4,000 school counselors, indirectly promoting that message to approximately 100,000 additional students those education professionals will encounter in the 2022-23 school year alone.
Through its 2022 Transportation Career Fairs, CREF directly connected industry employers with more than 1,800 students interested in a collision or transportation industry career. More than 1,000 posters and hundreds of banners promoting the various opportunities were distributed to collision programs across the country to further promote the viability of a collision career.
CREF found opportunities to identify, highlight and elevate students actively pursuing an industry career through competitions, including the PiN Master event, held in conjunction with FinishMaster’s Hood Master Challenge. Students were given the opportunity to compete against each other by repairing, designing and painting retired bowling pins in an effort to showcase these students’ skills and to support the future of this industry. More than $13,000 was raised, plus four PiN Master winners were recognized:
- First place: Eric De La Cruz, Lincoln Tech, Indianapolis, IN
- Second place: Colton Griggs, Kingwood Park High School, Houston, TX
- Third place: Erin Shannon, Lincoln Tech, Indianapolis, IN
- Wild card: Jordan Hoag, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC
Art Meets Automotive provided students with a chance to design and create a project using their favorite skillset, with entries being displayed at CREF’s reception during SEMA 2022. Sixty contestants entered the contest, with 30 submissions being chosen to compete on social media. Ultimately, CREF announced the winner as George Thomas of Ulster BOCES Career and Technical Center in Port Ewen, NY.
As part of its efforts to promote its mission to the industry and to generate support, CREF holds two annual golf fundraisers, and in 2022, both events generated more than $120,000 to be used to further advance collision schools and students.
CREF’s efforts are led by its Executive Committee and Board of Trustees, which consists of industry professionals who are dedicated to supporting the future of the industry through engagement with collision schools and students. These leaders offer guidance and encouragement, and without their devotion to the organization’s mission, CREF could not have enjoyed such a successful year.
Abby Andrews