The Collision Repair Education Foundation is calling on the collision industry to support Franklin Technology Center (FTC) of Joplin, MO, that was completely leveled during the F5 tornado that hit on May 22, 2011. Currently, FTC's auto collision program is operating out of a temporary warehouse and planning has begun to construct a new building in three years. However, through their 2011 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant application, the collision program has provided a wish list of tools, equipment, and supplies that would help their currently enrolled collision students.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation has pledged to help fulfill FTC's wish list and through the industry's help and support, the future of Joplin's collision industry will be a lot brighter. A special grant fund has been established through the Foundation which will aid in the purchasing of the needed materials. Collision industry members are invited to make tax-deductible monetary and/or in-kind product donations to this fund that will directly support FTC's auto collision program.
"The grant will offer Franklin Technology Center an opportunity to purchase state-of-the-art, new technology affiliated with the industry, meeting new standards as required," said Dave Rockers, Director of Franklin Technology Center. "It will also allow us an opportunity to replace some items that perhaps we would need to wait due to our temporary location otherwise. The grant will go a long ways towards helping Franklin Technology restart this program."
Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Scott Kruger noted, "Franklin Tech applied for the 2011 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant and when a program loses everything like they did, even $50,000 doesn't seem like enough. This is a great school and the Education Foundation is pledging to do everything it can to help rebuild and reequip the collision repair training program at Franklin Tech. This isn't a makeover – it's a 'make new' and a 'make right'."
Industry professionals interested in joining the Collision Repair Educaiton Foundation's efforts to support FTC's rebuild through a monetary and/or in-kind product donation should contact Associate Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at [email protected] or (847) 463-5244.
Monetary donations can also be sent directly to the Collision Repair Education Foundation:
Collision Repair Education Foundation
Attn: Franklin Technology Center Campaign
5125 Trillium Blvd
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
For additional information about the Collision Repair Education Foundation and efforts to support secondary and post-secondary collision repair programs nationwide visit them online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
