Education Foundation - About the Education Foundation: News: 2007 Press Release

Hoffman Estates, IL– July 23, 2007 – Toby Chess, I-CAR Program Instructor, obtained over $3,500 from Southern California repairers to benefit Gretna Career College in Gretna, Louisiana. The school found itself caught in the devastating path of Hurricane Katrina two years ago. Additionally, over $300 was contributed to this effort from a car wash fundraiser held by students at Contra Costa Community College in San Pablo, California. Instructor Peter Lock asked the I-CAR Education Foundation to use the funds to benefit a school hit by Hurricane Katrina.

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, Gretna Career College lost all contents that sustained their Automotive Collision Repair Technology program including computers, documentation of students’ satisfactory progress, pacing charts, course syllabi, lesson plans, curriculum, and other instructional resources that had been developed for the program.

“We decided to let the I-CAR Education Foundation find a worthy recipient for the money that was collected. I am very happy that a school’s collision repair program will benefit from the generosity of my good friends and colleagues,” stated Chess.

On July, 19 2007, Ron Ray, I-CAR Education Foundation Executive Director, and Jeff Peevy, I-CAR Field Operations Manager, presented donations to help outfit the Automotive Collision Repair Technology program at Gretna Career College. Donations included the I-CAR Live curriculum, student discs, props, student consumables, and simulators.

“The Automotive Collision Repair Technology program had only eight weeks left in its term when Hurricane Katrina hit on August 29, 2005,” said Nick Randazzo, President and CEO of Gretna Career College. “Since Katrina, it has been difficult recruiting students because the local economy continues to focus on rebuilding - everyone who wants to work is employed in construction trades. In essence, Gretna Career College has had to rebuild its student body, every instructional department, and each administrative component facing post-Katrina conditions. We are very grateful for the donations and believe that this will be the most effective means of reimplementing our program.”

“The dedication to help the future of this industry prosper from individuals like Toby Chess and other supporters in Southern California shows the tremendous commitment, passion, and effort needed to make a difference,” stated Ray.

About Gretna Career College
Gretna Career College’s mission is to assure a positive learning experience, to promote self esteem, and to develop the maximum potential of each student by providing quality occupational skills training in a professional work environment. Gretna Career College, located in Louisiana’s second Congressional District, serves non-traditional college students who are from poor socioeconomic backgrounds and have multiple barriers to employment. Visit www.gretnacareercollege.com or call 504.366.5409 for additional information.

The I-CAR Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to securing donations that support philanthropic and collision repair education activities that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry.

		I-CAR Press Release (188K) in Adobe Acrobat Format

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