Whether it’s a weather event or stolen tools or vehicles, members of the collision industry suffer when unexpected catastrophe hits. Fortunately, they have a place to turn for financial help in times of uncertainty: that place is the Collision Industry Foundation.
Individuals First
The Collision Industry Foundation, explained newly minted Board of Trustees Vice President Paul Hill, exists to help individuals first -- anyone with a significant involvement in the collision industry, from shop personnel to jobbers with strong collision ties.
Paul Hill.
“It's a simple focus: We're here to help people,” he said. “We secure and distribute donations to individuals who have experienced significant losses due to natural disasters or a catastrophic event. Something happens to someone's house, or we've had instances where people have had their tools stolen or their vehicle stolen or things like that, or car accidents -- anything that's a catastrophic event in their life, be it a major natural disaster or not.”
The Virginia-based organization, which began in 2001 and helps those in need nationwide, most recently assisted industry members dealing with the Hurricane Helene aftermath in Southeastern states. Now, it’s looking toward those affected by the California fires.
“So for Hurricane Helene, specifically, there were 11 different people that we helped -- over $12,000 distributed,” Hill said. “Most were flood damage from the storm that had different losses related to that.”
Trustees, he said, take turns being on call to speak with those who submit for assistance. He said he’s communicated with a number of California fire victims whose losses range from partial to “everything that they own, except for what they had on their backs.”
The CIF, he said, has just begun making awards for those submissions, and there’s a total of $250,000 currently set aside for the California fire requests, which will be addressed during a set timeframe.
“We know that this has the potential to be a significantly large distribution due to the level of what's happened out there,” he said.
‘Getting the Word Out’
The Collision Industry Foundation's biggest challenge, Hill said, is informing industry members that there’s help available.
“I think our biggest struggle is getting the word out,” he said. There are still so many technicians that don't know that we're here to help. We're always trying to find ways to get the word out that there is assistance available, that there are people who care, and that will help them.”
Suppliers on the national and local level, alongside other members of the industry who may float from shop to shop have been a good network for spreading the word about CIF, Hill said.
“The awareness piece is helping share the word that there is an organization that's out there. I think the best network for that is the jobbers,” he said.
And spreading that awareness before a catastrophe, he asserted, is important.
“I think getting the word out sooner before there's an event is the key -- that there is an organization out there so that one more people can support and help us get the word out when there's a need.”
Support for assistance efforts comes largely through companies that step up with donations. The CIF’s dozens of annual donors include top tier “first responders” who donate $10,000 or more yearly, “urgent care” donors who contribute $5,000 or more, “immediate care” donors who give $1,000, “primary care” donors who give $500 and “first aid” donors who contribute $50.
Interest in helping seems strong across the industry.
The foundation’s flagship fundraising event, Cocktails for a Cause, took place earlier this year. The organization, Hill said, is still tallying up numbers but expects to have brought in more than $20,000 with record attendance and a record amount raised.
At present, he said, the foundation is accepting donations for general funding and specifically for California wildfires victims. Those interested in contributing can do so via collisionindustryfoundation.org.
Elizabeth Crumbly