REMINDER – the ABPA Encourages Our Members to Support CREF Before Year End!

As 2022 is nearing its end, the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) and Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) are collaborating by reaching out to ABPA members on an opportunity to support high school and college collision repair programs, students, and instructors.

The industry’s entry-level talent need is at a dire level and CREF is in a unique position to address this issue being the charitable organization that supports high school/college collision programs across the United States through their industry partners. These technical programs being supported by the industry showcases to the administration and decision makers on the need to keep these programs not only opened but also well-supported to meet local industry employer needs.

Year-End Collaboration Opportunity

We would like to invite ABPA members to join us in supporting the future professionals of the collision industry before the end of the year. Companies that are able to join us and participate will be recognized at the 2023 ABPA conference in Nashville, TN and also within the industry press. The two support opportunities include:

• ABPA members are invited to make a year-end tax-deductible donation to CREF, which helps the organization continue their support of collision school programs nationwide. Any donated amount is greatly appreciated, and we would like to thank ABPA member LKQ Corp for their recent $25,000 donation to CREF to kick off this campaign!

• Included with this letter is a list of high school/college collision programs who requested donated parts for their collision program to help ensure their students have those to practice on this upcoming spring semester. If your company has parts available for donation that you would like to direct to a specific school on the list or you market(s) aren’t included in the school list, please contact CREF to locate additional schools.

  Click here to download the list (Excel format)

Thank you in advance for your support consideration! If you are able to join us with these school support initiatives, please contact CREF Managing Director Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org or 312-231-0258.

For more information on the 2023 ABPA conference in Nashville, please visit the ABPA convention page.