Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 2026) –
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
– John Quincy Adams
Students dreaming of becoming collision repair professionals cannot achieve their aspirations without support from educators and the industry. Instructors striving to educate students will struggle to impart wisdom if they have not learned the necessary lessons to teach. Educational programs seeking to expand their offerings and advance their programs are unable to do those things unless they have the funds to accomplish their goals.
The collision repair field offers so many potential career paths that are unrecognized due to erroneous stereotypes, but it cannot become more than those misconceptions suggest without the guidance and patronage of leaders who recognize the value of investing in the industry’s future.
Fortunately, many industry leaders have come together in support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and its annual Benchmark Awards which provide funding to help instructors elevate their programs and inspire the next generation of collision repair professionals.
“These funds allow us to stay current with industry standards and to keep teaching at the top of our industry with technology,” shares Mike Hanscome, collision instructor at Aims Community College (Windsor, CO), a 2024 Benchmark Award recipient. “When our students graduate and enter the industry, they now have the knowledge of state-of-the-art repair procedures and experience with using that equipment.”
“Benchmark Award funds impacted our program in a tremendous way,” reports Felipe Maldonado, Collision Repair Instructor at Tarrant County College District (Fort Worth, TX), whose school received vital funding in 2023. “The students now have access to computers and are able to replicate how technology works in the collision industry.”
Over the past 16 years, CREF has facilitated the industry’s generosity by funding nearly 1,200 Benchmark Awards worth over $5 million and inspiring over 50,000 future industry professionals! In 2025 alone, 104 high school and college collision programs were awarded CREF Benchmark Awards, totaling $726,500 – the highest dollar amount to-date in a single year! The industry’s generosity will have a positive impact on over 5,300 students current training in these programs, as well as the students who enroll in upcoming years.
“Our students get really excited when they come into the shop and find out that our program now has many of the same tools and products they’ve learned to use through training and lectures,” observes Kenneth McMillian, Collision Repair Instructor at Kennedy-King College (Chicago, IL), a 2020 Benchmark Award winner. “It’s important that the collision industry get involved with local schools because it gives them a voice in how their future employees should be trained. Our schools’ programs need that help since the programs teaching the next generation of the collision industry’s workforce face tremendous budgetary problems.”
“Our students were blown away, and the shop was filled with smiles,” agrees David Rosenberg, Collision Repair Instructor at Ulster BOCES (Port Ewen, NY), whose program received a $12,000 Benchmark Award in 2020. “One student mentioned how motivating he finds it to know that industry companies believe in these students enough to donate and invest in our program.”
Attracting more students to collision programs is an imperative component in solving the workforce crisis, and it’s certainly easier when those programs are well-equipped to prepare its graduates to successfully enter the field.
“The collision repair industry is currently experiencing a significant shortage of skilled technicians,” points out Amy Bogner, collision repair instructor at 2025 Benchmark Award winner Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES LoGuidice Educational Center (E2CCB) in Fredonia, NY. “Many shops are struggling to find and retain qualified employees. Collision repair programs can provide businesses with well-trained technicians who meet industry standards, but we need them to get involved because industry professionals are informed about current developments in the industry and can share the qualities they look for in technicians. They can inspire and guide students considering a career in the collision industry, potentially opening doors for mentorship and internship opportunities.”
Applications for CREF’s 2026 Benchmark Awards will open January 20 with a deadline of June 30, 2026. Apply for a 2026 Benchmark Award online at bit.ly/CREFschools.
This year’s applicants will benefit even more as completing the application survey will automatically provide schools with access to The Donation Exchange, powered by CREF! Designed as a “designated and uninterrupted bridge” between donors and collision schools, The Donation Exchange provides a forum for donors to offer everything from safety equipment and tools to paint and body materials and even parts, ensuring that collision repair education programs are better equipped to provide excellent training that produces the qualified, entry-level technicians the industry desperately needs. These in-kind donations can make all the difference for instructors striving to empower students with the knowledge and skill sets they’ll need to soar in their future careers.
Donors gain a sense of pride in their support of collision schools and students through CREF, knowing that 100% of in-kind donations directly support the Foundation’s mission to “create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities.” CREF’s commitment to that mission can be substantiated by viewing its four-star rating on Charity Navigator. Donations are tax-deductible, and it’s easy for donors to register. Simply create an account at donation-exchange.org/donors, and list your company’s available resources to make a positive impact on collision repair education programs near you! The Donation Exchange even offers hands-on reporting that allows you to track your contributions.
Since 2009, CREF has facilitated the industry’s generosity to provide collision repair educational programs with cash and in-kind donations. Learn about different ways to get involved with local schools, including how to direct a monetary or in-kind donation to a specific school in your market area, by clicking here. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to explore testimonials about how your support impacts the educational programs as well as the students.
Instructors can register at donation-exchange.org/schools to start searching for the items their programs need to allow them to provide the best education and training to their students.
CREF’s Benchmark Awards recognize schools that excel at educating students in collision repair, but due to strained school budgets, the programs require additional financial assistance. Recipient schools use these funds to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to enhance their students’ learning experience and elevate the caliber of their graduates, ensuring that graduates are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation. The Benchmark Award application allows instructors to request specific items that are needed to help them advance their curriculum, and applying schools that are not selected for grant funds are still eligible to receive a variety of tools, equipment and supplies donated by industry sponsors and supporters.
Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist high school and college collision repair training programs can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. Monetary donations can be made online.
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The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation, visit us online at: www.CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org.
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If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.