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CREF 2021 Impact Report | Making a Difference in Collision Repair

CREF 2021 Impact Report to the Industry

The Vision: A collision industry with a sufficient number of qualified, properly trained, and immediately productive entry-level employees to meet current and future Industry needs.

Brandon Eckenrode, CREF’s managing director, provided the following summary for a look back on how CREF and their partners made an positive impact for the collision repair industry in 2021.

As the pandemic caused schools to take an even closer look at their program budgets, which typically risk the collision programs being closed, the industry ramped up their support to allow the Collision Repair Education Foundation to assist high school and college collision program instructors in their time of need. While many schools weren’t able to meet in person during the year, CREF continued its efforts of helping instructors with their technical education by hosting webinars with industry guest speakers for their students.

Our summer golf fundraiser in Cleveland during industry week was a nice return to being able to gather together in-person to raise additional support and awareness with our industry friends. We plan for the 2022 event to be even better with it being the 20th anniversary of the event, which heads to Pittsburgh.

CREF was honored to announce that industry supporter and former Board of Trustees member Tim Adelmann was donated $500,000, our largest monetary donation, to create a scholarship that will help remove financial barriers for collision students. We are extremely grateful for Tim’s leadership, leadership and very generous support, and hope it others to consider supporting our efforts.

I am so proud of the CREF team for all their work and perseverance while facing another off year due to the pandemic. Here’s to the hope that 2022 will bring a new normal so that CREF can continue our efforts to help connect students with the industry’s career opportunities.

Brandon Eckenrode | Managing Director

CREF 2021 Impact Report

A Lasting Legacy

(from pg. 5 of CREF 2021 Impact Report)

Tim Adelmann Donates $500,000 to Collision Repair Education Foundation to Fund Adelmann Family Scholarships Hoffman Estates, Ill.

“See something, say something.” Reading a simple sign inspired recently retired collision professional Tim Adelmann to make moves to amplify the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to help schools and students at a higher level.

“Saying something isn’t sufficient anymore because we’ve been talking about the technician shortage for years, so I believe it’s ‘see something, DO something,” Adelmann shares. “I see that the industry’s technician shortage is worse than it’s ever been, and I want to do something about it.”

After considering the legacy he hopes to leave the industry he loves, Adelmann reached out in a tremendous show of generosity, promising $500,000 over the next five years — the largest monetary donation the Foundation has ever received, not just from an individual but from any organization. Beginning this spring, up to $100,000 per year will be awarded to deserving collision repair technician students for five years.

Additional Highlights From the CREF 2021 Impact Report

  • Over $10,000,000 in Support Provided to Schools, Students, and Instructors
  • Over $8,000,000 in Product/In-Kind Donations Provided to Collision School Programs
  • Annual Golf Event Raises $80,000 with PPG as Co-Host Sponsor

See the full CREF 2021 Impact Report here.

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