Friday Deadline: Vote Now to Help Fund CREF

The Collision Repair Education Foundation needs your help by Friday, Dec. 8, to get additional funding.

As we reported Tuesday, Nov. 28, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is participating for the second year in the LKQ Holiday Cares Campaign. Ten organizations have been selected to receive an initial $50,000 and are vying for an additional $500,00. The organization with the most votes gets the largest share of the $500,000, and the campaign ends Dec. 8. At the time of this writing, CREF is "neck and neck" with another charity for second place. CREF got the most votes in 2022.

"Every vote counts, and your support can make a significant difference in the lives of aspiring collision repair experts," said Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. "Your vote directly impacts the amount of funding we receive, enabling us to provide better tools, equipment, and training opportunities for our students."

Chris Messer, VP/group publisher of Endeavor Business Media's Vehicle Repair Group, publisher of ABRN and FenderBender, sat down to talk with Eckenrode about the campaign and how are readers can help:

 It takes less than a minute to vote. Here's how:

1. Follow this link to the LKQ Holiday Cares voting page.

2. Select CREF as your chosen organization

3. Confirm your vote.

4. Vote once per day, every day, per device from now until Dec. 8