CREF, PPG raise $70,000 during co-hosted fundraiser

co-hosted by PPG Automotive Refinish, raised $70,000 through the support of attendees and sponsors. Sponsors and participants enjoyed a day of golf at South Shore Country Club in Hingham, Massachusetts on July 25, 2013 and the funds raised from this event will go toward supporting scholarships and grants for collision schools and students.

“Not even the rain could stop us from bringing together industry professionals to raise a significant amount of funds for the industry’s future professionals,” said Clark Plucinski, Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director. “We would like to thank all of the attendees, sponsors, and specifically PPG Automotive Refinish for their continued co-hosting sponsorship as this event has progressed from raising $19,000 in 2009 to $70,000 this year.”

“This is the fourth consecutive year we’ve co-hosted the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s industry fundraiser,” said Domenic Brusco, PPG Automotive Refinish, senior manager, industry relations. “It is great to see the industry collectively support this event and raise a significant amount of funds to assist high school and college collision students, programs, and instructors nationwide.” 

A new addition to the fundraiser this year was the helicopter golf ball drop, sponsored by LORD Fusor. Through this event alone, an additional $12,000 was raised for the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Golf balls, sponsored by individuals, were dropped from a helicopter above a green, and whoever’s ball was closest to the pin won a $1,000 American Express gift card. The winning ball was #303, sponsored by Gerber Collision & Glass President and COO Tim O’Day, who graciously donated the prize back to the Education Foundation.

In addition to PPG Automotive Refinish’s support, the additional fundraiser sponsors that made this event a success include:

3M
ABRA Auto Body & Glass
ALLDATA
Audatex, a Solera company
Automotive Body Parts Association
Automotive Electronic Solutions
Axalta
BASF Corporation
Caliber Collision Centers
CAPA
CARSTAR Mundelein
CCC Information Services, Inc.
Columbus Collision Education Group
CSi Complete
CynCast
Dedoes
Diamond Standard Parts
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Esurance
Evercoat
FenderBender
FootJoy
GD&C
Ford Motor Company
GEICO
General Motors
The Hertz Corporation
Insurance Auto Auctions
International Autobody Congress & Exposition
Jerry's Body Shop, Inc.
Kent Automotive
Kwik Auto Body Supplies, Inc
LC Automotive Investments, LLC
LKQ Corporation
LORD Fusor
OEM Collision Repair Roundtable
Safeco Insurance/ Liberty Mutual
Saint-Gobain Abrasives AA
Samuel Adams
Seidner’s Collision Centers
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes
Sterling Autobody Centers

Industry members are asked to save the date of Thursday, July 31^st for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2014 golf fundraiser which is taking place in the greater Detroit area in conjunction with industry meetings being held that week. Individuals and companies interested in getting involved with next year’s fundraiser should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244 or [email protected].

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to securing donations that support philanthropic and collision repair education activities that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation, visit us on the Internet at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.