August 3, 2023 - Karl Kirschenman, Director of Business Operations for Innovative Solutions and Technology, when the company joined the Annual Donor Program: Working with the CIF and Petra Schroeder team for several years now, it’s easy to understand the ongoing need that we have in our industry. We have witnessed our co-workers directly affected by often tragic events and losses, and CIF has come to help those in need. “CIF answers the call”, and we are proud to support this organization for years to come.
August 3, 2023 - Nick Mattera, Co-Owner of Innovative Solutions and Technology, when joining the Annual Donor Program: CIF is an incredible organization within the collision repair community. Every year, individuals in need are provided opportunities to get the help they need to help them recover from often heartbreaking challenges in their lives. CIF provides a lifeline for people working inside collision repair facilities throughout the United States.
May 9, 2023 - Tim Morgan, Chief Operating Officer Spanesi Americas, when renewing the Annual Donor Commitment: So often someone hits a bump in the road and needs a little help. Collision Industry Foundation is a great resource for this and we are proud to be a donor.
April 17, 2023 - Tanya Sweetland, General Manager of the Advanced Repair Technologies division of OEC when sending an additional donation from various online and in person engagements with customers and business partners. We are grateful for the opportunity to directly support and spread awareness of the good work by the Collision Industry Foundation – a unique element of the collision repair industry that shines a bright light on the generosity of the thousands of professionals working towards the common goal of safe and proper repairs.
December 3, 2022 - Billy Flatt from Punta Gorda, Florida - when receiving the CIF check: I just wanted to thank you and everyone in the Collision Industry Foundation for helping me out with the loss of tools. I really appreciate it. I'm very thankful for everything. I hope you have a great rest of the year. Thanks again - Billy.
October 11, 2022 - Charles (Chuck) Sulkala - when donating to the CIF Annual Donor Program 2022 at the Immediate Care level: “I can’t pay back all those that helped me on my journey in this industry, but I can help others in the future just as I was helped in the past”
July 27, 2022 - Stacey LaViola, volunteer photographer - I'm grateful for the opportunity to use my love of photography to help out a great non-profit such as CIF. The 11th gala fundraiser was a magnificent event and what a blessing to witness the recipient of that horrible fire, receive that huge check. Kudos to you and the others that serve on the board for making this year's Gala so awesome.
Feb. 21, 2022 - Mark Jurman, President and CEO of Dedoes Industries LLC when renewing the Annual Donor program: We are pleased to donate to a cause that supports our industry and its members in need after disaster hit.
Nov. 24, 2021 - when donating to the $20for20 fundraising campaign:
Scott Faber - Thanks for the smiles you're able to bring to so many deserving folks!
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Testimonials
Nov. 24, 2021 - $20for20 donor (wants to remain anonymous): CIF was there for our business when we faced a natural disaster. We will forever be grateful for their kindness and generosity. We look ahead with gratitude and are honored to pay it forward by supporting CIF so other shops in our industry can be assisted in the future. Thank you to the Board for all of your support during this time.
2021 Feb. 10 - Dave Luehr, Owner at Elite Bodyshop Solutions, Nashville, TN on his birthday fundraiser for CIF on Facebook: "Of all Charities I can contribute to, I choose CIF because I can trust that all proceeds are all going to help someone in need." "It always gives me great satisfaction giving back to an industry that has contributed so much to me and my family". "One way I like to challenge others to contribute to my birthday fundraiser is by matching the first $500 personally. I have been able to raise several thousand dollars using this method."
2021 Jan. 20 - Jane Niemi - NA Marketing Manager - BASF Automotive Refinish: We are so happy to contribute to CIF and support the disaster relief fund. We are all in this business together and want nothing more than each shop to have an opportunity to succeed, particularly during this time. W
2021 Jan. 4 - Robert Grieve from Nylund's Collision, Englewood, CO shared this comment after he donated to CIF as part of the GivingTuesday Initiative: Wishing the foundation the most amazing year ever! I will give it thoughts as to how to best share awareness of the critical work all you rock stars do!
2021 Jan. 4 - Keith Going - It is my honor to support the Collision Repair Industry as it has given more than I could ever give it.
2020 Nov. 11: Christina Molina, Collision Care Express, Pompano Beach, FL after CIF was able to assist her team: "Good afternoon, I wanted to send you an email and let you know that we received the checks. We presented the checks to our staff and also gave them some insight on what Collision Industry Foundation does. We want to thank you and Collision Industry Foundation from the bottom of our hearts. The room was full of smiles and tears at the same time. Our team is very thankful for your help. They all said it came in just the right time. Thank you so much for your help. Attached you will find a video from our staff."
2020 Nov. 11: Christina Molina, Collision Care Express, Pompano Beach, FL after CIF was able to assist her team: "Good afternoon, I wanted to send you an email and let you know that we received the checks. We presented the checks to our staff and also gave them some insight on what Collision Industry Foundation does. We want to thank you and Collision Industry Foundation from the bottom of our hearts. The room was full of smiles and tears at the same time. Our team is very thankful for your help. They all said it came in just the right time. Thank you so much for your help. Attached you will find a video from our staff."
2020: As COVID-19 began spreading across our nation in March - resulting in financial impact to businesses and individuals - the CIF Board of Trustees sprang into action and created a special fund to provide assistance for those directly affected by the Coronavirus crisis. Beginning in late March and throughout all of May into June and July, CIF received more than 600 applications for assistance coming from 41 US states. The majority of which met the CIF established criteria and were funded.
Dalton Collision, TN. Jerry Dalton - President: "I first learned about CIF last year and I was impressed with with way CIF helped body shop employees at the time when they were dealing with wildfires. When my business slowed down significantly, I reached out to CIF for assistance. When my employees received the checks from CIF, I was reminded of winning the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes. It was awesome. It sure helped out our employees. They were really appreciative."
Fix Auto Portland East and Fix Auto Gladstone, OR. Camille Eber - Co-Owner: "I learned about CIF's COVID assistance from CRASH NETWORK. We wanted to show our employees that our industry is a giving one. What CIF did was above anything I would have imagined. All business owners know the challenges of managing our businesses, so managing a non-profit like CIF by volunteers generous with their time, and supported by donors generous with their money, is nothing short of remarkable." "Organizations such as CIF can be a safety net to a few or many - any filled need is better than none. I want to send an enormous thank you to each person who has touched CIF over the years, including those responsible for the original idea, those giving of themselves to operate it, and the many folks who have sent funds in the past and during these tremendously gut-tighteningly hard times".
Fuller Automotive Companies, MA. Joshua Fuller – Bodyshop Manager - "I was impressed by how they were able to come in and help so many of our stakeholders beyond what we could do. Every little bit helps. We were were fortunate to take advantage of it and so are our people. It's definitively a welcome contribution.
Carl's Collision Center, MA. Carl Garcia - Owner- CIF has provided financial assistance to about a half-dozen of our laid-off employees. It was great to be able to offer this option to employees. It was actually amazing how quickly the Foundation was able to process it and get them the money. It went to people who really needed it. I remember the Foundation over the years raising funds to help individuals in the industry facing challenges because of Hurricane Katrina, the 2018 wildfires in California, and major flooding in 2016 in Missouri and West Virginia. To have my own staff be the recipient of that same type of support, I don’t think I’ll ever forget,”
Fred Martin Collision Center, OH. Tammy Horvat - Manager: CIF provided assistance to four of our shop’s technicians laid off because of the pandemic. This money helped put food on their table, helped pay rent or mortgages or utility bills, the basic necessities that are needed when you are impacted financially after suddenly being laid off. To have an organization that steps up and helps our collision repair professionals during times of hardship and crisis is another reason I admire our collision community"
Here is what some of our CIF donors have to say
Joseph Allen, General Manager , Senior Vice President, Automotive Services Group CCC: During our most challenging times, the Collision Industry Foundation has been a constant source of leadership for our industry. We are proud to support CIF as it continues its work mobilizing the broader community and delivering relief to our industry.”
Alex Dalyac, CEO and co-founder at Tractable, shared why he chose CIF for this donation. “At Tractable, our mission is to accelerate accident and disaster recovery across the world, with AI. But the world has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic. As a company, we feel we have the duty to do something to help those in need within our industry. Automotive repair professionals and their families are being affected, experiencing medical and financial difficulties.”
NCS/Single Source CEO John Leavy noted, “We have tremendous respect for the work that the Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) is doing in support of collision repair professionals across the country and we are proud to support the overall efforts of CIF.”
August 2019: two collision repairers, Andre and Jordan A, ,lost their lives during the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, while protecting their youngest son's life. Leaving him and 2 other young children behind. CIF introduced a “Campaign of Caring,” that successfully inspired the industry to raise money for the children's fund.
Said daughter Deborah: “The show of support for my father and our immediate family has been remarkable and will not be forgotten. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated”.
December 2018: along with local industry professionals, CIF assisted to organize Christmas dinner and presents for the little ones of those left homeless by the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, which was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history to date. 18,500 homes and businesses were destroyed as well as 88 lives taken by the fast moving fire. Many industry professionals were either camping in tents, in shelters or living in cramped quarters with relatives. The idea to bring a Christmas meal and invite all Collision Industry Professionals together from the region was the brainchild of Becky Rogers, general manager of Pearson Road Collision Repair in Paradise, CA. Rogers lost both her home and her job, but still was determined to assist others.
Stated Becky: "I am so grateful our industry is rising up to help us. You just can't imagine the devastation these families have experienced. We all have to help give them some sense of normalcy, especially for the children at Christmas. We were already a close-knit group in our town, and now this has pulled us even closer together. From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank all those across the country who have helped."
December 2018
Dear CIF Friends,
We just want to say thank you for helping us during the camp fire disaster in Paradise, CA.
Your support has come at a time when our family needs it most and we appreciate you very much.
Michael Quinn has been such a blessing!
Thank you,
Patrick Luna & Family
CIF Donates to Assist California Fire Victims - December 2018
January 19, 2015 - Veteran Sterling Keith at the 2015 CIF Gala:
"On behalf of me, my family and my wife; I want to say a huge thank you to Snap-On Tools and the Collision Industry Foundation for all they have done for us. From making it possible for us to attend a great conference in sunny Palm Springs, CA where we met some of the industry’s best, to a generous donation of tools & a custom tool box. With the replacement of my tools I will be able to not only support my family but hopefully pay it forward by working to bring awareness of the industry to other soldiers/veterans. Soldiers who have PTSD &/or TBI (traumatic brain injury) like me, can benefit from taking a damaged vehicle (kinda like our internal wounds) and working on it (therapy), and making it beautiful again (progress).”
September 9, 2013 Lev Schmidt - CIF Donates to Hurricane Sandy Victims
"This storm hit us hard. It really meant a lot to us that there was a group out there that cared about what happened here. We didn’t think know this was possible, and to have your own industry stand up for you is amazing and heart-warming. We can’t thank those who’ve donated enough for their generosity.”
September 9, 2013, Rosario DiGregorio - IF Donates to Hurricane Sandy Victims
"It felt great that other people in the industry care about shops like us, and this gesture went a long way in helping us get back on our feet.” “No one else came back with any help like FEMA or insurance payment. This helped us buy a few things for the shop and it was a nice feeling of hope. I would just ask that everyone keep donating for the future.”
September 12, 2010 - Leah Rah - VIce President of Corporate Partnerships for Feeding America
“The support of the Collision Industry Foundation will provide the equivalent of 40,000 meals to Americans who are fighting food insecurity.” “Feeding America is grateful to partners like the CIF, whose commitment to hunger relief impacts thousands of lives.”
CIF’s Crash Hunger Program Partners with Feeding America During Hunger Action Month