Hoffman Estates, Ill. (February 2026) –
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2026 – a testament to the power of vision, perseverance and collaboration! Over the past three and a half decades, thanks to the unwavering support of countless industry partners, CREF has inspired and impacted thousands of students and elevated collision repair education programs nationwide. While this remarkable milestone deserves celebration, it is also a launching pad for an even brighter future. With renewed passion and determination, CREF’s leadership is more committed than ever to breaking barriers, raising the bar and creating opportunities that will inspire the next generation to dream bigger and reach higher.
“The Foundation is ecstatic to be celebrating our 35th anniversary in 2026!” shares CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “Since 1991, we’ve been dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, instructors and students to ensure a qualified future workforce…but our passion for this mission has only increased over the years – we’re just getting started!”
THEN
But where did CREF actually get its start? In the 1980s, the collision repair industry first encountered a critical shortage of qualified entry-level employees entering the workforce. No nationally-recognized curriculum was available to guide instructors teaching entry-level collision skills. No nationally-coordinated scholarship programs served to attract more students to the trade. Nothing existed to provide a way for instructors and schools to interact not only with one another but also with the collision businesses seeking to expand the workforce by hiring the students graduating from their programs.
Desperate to support the country’s technical education system in producing high-caliber graduates to support the industry’s needs, a group of passionate collision visionaries, including Jeff Silver, Russ Verona, Lirel Holt, Frank McGiboney and Chuck Sulkala, created the then-named I-CAR Education Foundation in 1991 which was charged with developing, promoting and distributing a curriculum to grapple with this shortcoming. The newly-created non-profit organization coordinated efforts to improve the quality and consistency of collision repair training throughout the country by facilitating workshops and meetings to encourage networking amongst instructors. The I-CAR Education Foundation also developed a comprehensive curriculum, making it available to schools through the support of industry contributions.
But over the years, it became apparent that this initiative to address the training gap only partially addressed the industry’s workforce dilemma; with schools across the nation facing severe budgetary constraints, instructors were struggling to secure adequate funding for their collision repair educational programs, leading to fewer and fewer employees entering the industry with the skills they needed to be successful. Again relying on the industry’s generosity, the Foundation sought to improve student recruitment and retention by facilitating scholarships to provide financial assistance to the next generation of collision repairers as they pursued educational endeavors. As these efforts grew, the I-CAR Education Foundation transformed into the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), a traditional philanthropic organization focused on supporting the industry’s future by enriching opportunities for collision repair students and schools, while relying on I-CAR to continue its focus on schools’ curriculum. To achieve its mission, CREF facilitated the industry’s generosity and began to provide financial aid that helped alleviate the financial burdens of schools and students.
NOW
Driven to remove financial barriers to education in support of students, instructors and schools, promote opportunities for a diverse workforce and reward dedication, achievement and passion for the collision repair trade, CREF’s programs now focus on creating connection, collaboration and camaraderie among industry stakeholders and the future generation…and the impact the Foundation has had over the past 35 years is truly inspirational!
Since 2009, nearly 1,200 School Benchmark Awards have infused almost $6 million into collision repair educational programs, providing instructors with the tools, equipment, software and other necessities vital for preparing more than 50,000 industry professionals to successfully enter the workforce. “Tremendous budgetary pressures make it difficult for many collision repair instructors to merely maintain their programs at current capabilities, yet constantly advancing vehicle technology has created the need for increased abilities to satisfy the industry’s current and future workforce needs,” offers CREF Director of Operations and Impact Melissa Marscin. “Funds from CREF’s School Awards provide the means for investing in these programs, and by bridging this budgetary gap, high school and college collision school programs are better equipped to graduate well-trained and capable collision students who are prepared to enter the industry as viable employees.”
Annual estimating software donations by leading providers enable collision school programs to provide students with the opportunity to learn on the same software widely used by the repair facilities and insurance carriers where they will be working in the future – at no cost to the school or students. Eckenrode praises these donors for their “continued support of the industry’s pre-employment education system,” noting “the ability to learn on current technology as a student has been proven to drive career success after they graduate and join the workforce.”
Meanwhile, the Foundation also works to relieve the cost of tuition and tooling for the industry’s future workforce to ensure financial barriers do not prevent them from pursuing their education. Over 1,500 students have been personally empowered to pursue collision educations through CREF’s Student Scholarship Program, which has awarded over $3 million over the past 15 years. “Collision students’ commitment to pursuing their education and becoming part of the collision industry is a testament to the potential this field holds, but tuition can be cost-prohibitive for some,” Marscin acknowledges. “Scholarships give students a boost in clearing this financial hurdle, so they don’t begin their careers with a huge amount of debt. That support has proven to be empowering and motivating to many, who see the industry’s investment in them as evidence that they can look forward to a long, successful career.”
CREF has also facilitated over $130 million worth of in-kind donations, benefitting thousands of collision repair students and more than 800 educational programs, thanks to the generosity of its industry partners. Last year, the Foundation made it easier than ever for industry organizations to offer resources through 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, equipping collision repair education with the resources necessary to provide excellent training that produces the qualified, entry-level technicians the industry desperately needs.
But connection is also vital, and the Foundation ensures the incoming workforce has a chance to interact with the plethora of employers seeking their skills through its High School and College Transportation Student Career Fairs each spring and fall. “Students learn more about the diverse career paths within the collision industry, allowing them to explore the opportunities available to them,” says CREF Program Manager Tiffany Bulak. “At the same time, industry employers participating in the Foundation’s Career Fairs are able to showcase what they have to offer while connecting locally with the incoming collision professionals who have trained for entry-level positions and are ready to begin their careers.”
FUTURE
Throughout 2026, CREF has a number of festivities planned to celebrate its 35th anniversary as it reflects upon the Foundation’s “then,” celebrates its “now” and gears up for continued growth in “the future!”
“Join us throughout the year as we pay tribute to those who built our organization, recognize the supporters who make our work possible and highlight the beneficiaries of the industry’s generosity over the decades…while charting the course for another impactful 35 years!” Eckenrode encourages all.
After 35 years of philanthropic giving, CREF recognizes that its success would not be possible without those who built and shaped the organization as well as the people and companies that have provided the financial support necessary to expand its giving abilities. The Foundation cherishes the success of each individual whose life has been improved through the Foundation’s work and is proud to have contributed to making it possible. The Foundation will be recognizing those individuals and organizations throughout the year by highlighting their inspirational stories to demonstrate the impact that the industry’s donations truly have! All who have been involved with or impacted by CREF since 1991 are encouraged to share their story at bit.ly/tell-your-CREF-story.
These stories and more will be featured throughout the year as CREF celebrates its achievements, honors the donors who have contributed to its successes and reconnects with the collision professionals whose education was positively impacted by the Foundation’s numerous initiatives. An in-depth history of the Foundation’s establishment and ongoing altruism will be highlighted by the industry press over the summer, and CREF will be announcing unique fundraising and support opportunities throughout the year, so be sure to connect with the Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribe to “Fueling the Future,” CREF’s monthly e-newsletter.
CREF’s Annual Golf Tournament always offers an ideal opportunity for industry advocates and supporters to come together in a joint effort to support the future collision workforce, but this year’s event will feature even more cause to take a swing on the green as 35th anniversary celebrations will be interwoven throughout the day. You won’t want to miss the 2026 Golf Tournament, scheduled for Tuesday, July 21 at the Seven Bridges Golf Club in Woodridge, IL; sign up for the waitlist and stay tuned for additional information in the coming months.
Even as CREF celebrates its successes over the past 35 years, the Foundation has its eye on the future and continues to envision ways to drive its mission for the next 35! With collision instructors facing ever-decreasing budgets while simultaneously navigating the industry’s increasing expectations of graduating properly trained, entry-level students, industry support is needed now more than ever! “We’ve come a long way from our humble origins, and we’ve incredibly grateful to all the companies and individuals who have donated in the past and continue to aid CREF in inspiring action, impact and results,” Eckenrode expresses.
“However, as an organization funded entirely through the generosity of others, we can only meet the needs of collision schools and students through your continued support,” he adds, calling on those now currently involved with CREF to work together to attract the best students to the industry, connect them with the right opportunities for future employment and ensure instructors have the resources needed to provide a quality technical education. “These students are YOUR future employees, and their success in the workplace depends on the entire collision repair industry standing behind them. I recognize that times are tough for many, but the future can be bright if we all come together to do our part – the best is yet to come!”
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.