​History

​Prior to the creation of the Collision Industry Foundation, members of the collision industry rallied monies and volunteers together to perform works that would benefit needy organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House. Though these efforts came together and were successful, they were the results of the work of a small group of people and required substantial personal investments in time and administration. Because of the organizational structure required to promote and realize such projects, leaders of the former projects spoke of creating a Foundation to coordinate fund raising, create committees, gather volunteers and brainstorm. In addition, the group had committed to a project of immense proportions, that of raising $500,000 to donate toward the construction of a medical center for Camp Mak-A-Dream, a free camp for children with active cancer. It was no longer possible for a handful of volunteers to manage a project of such enormity and thus the Collision Industry Foundation was formed.

Camp-Mak-a-Dream Hospital

​The Collision Industry Foundation was incorporated on April 26, 2001. The original founders of the Collision Industry Foundation included Marco Grossi, Dan Greenwald, Doug Webb, Glen Funk, Charles Sulkala, Jeanne Silver and Mark Claypool. The foundation was formed with the intent of becoming a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization and the IRS filing took place on August 24, 2001. Consideration by the IRS was received and the foundation officially became a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization on September 19, 2001.

The Collision Industry Foundation manages funds donated for the purpose of support of charitable and educational causes. It collects these funds as a tax exempt organization and disburses them as needed after review of projects by the trustees, selection committee volunteers and selection committee leaders. Up until such time as the Foundation was able to fund its own administration, this was done on a volunteer basis. However, because of the complexity of the projects that have been completed and other charitable projects envisioned for the future, administrative costs were budgeted as part of the necessary expense of maintaining the foundation. The administration of the foundation is funded by the Collision Industry Foundation solely.

Re-tooling after Hurricane Katrina

Additional charitable activities with other organizations have been recommended and subsequently considered by the trustees and selection committees. The Collision Industry Foundation works closely with the National Auto Body Council, whose members suggest worthy causes, form committees to assist the Foundation in raising funds for worthy projects. Charitable projects of the Collision Industry Foundation have included donations to local causes including children’s hospitals and battered women’s outreach programs; donations to sponsor students participation at the 2005 WorldSkills competition; donations to fund the purchase of a handicapped accessible school bus for Camp Mak-A-Dream; and The Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund for collision industry victims. In the wake of Hurricane Rita, the Disaster Relief Fund was created to aid industry victims of any natural disaster.

The revised mission of the Collision Industry Foundation is: Raise and manage funds to be distributed to causes chosen to meet the philanthropic goals and needs of the collision industry.

The revised vision of the Collision Industry Foundation is: The preeminent self-sustaining charitable foundation fulfilling the philanthropic goals and needs of the collision industry.​

For more information about ongoing projects, contact info is:

Phone/Fax: 804-427-6982
Email: collisionindustryfoundation@gmail.com
Mailing: P.O. Box 3007, Mechanicsville, VA 23116
Website: www.collisionindustryfoundation.com