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CIF seeks donations for Irma auto body industry victims; offers charity tips

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The Collision Industry Foundation on Wednesday said it would also support Hurricane Irma victims connected to the auto body repair sector and urged the industry to keep donating.

The 501(c)3 charity, which provides replacement tools and necessities to collision professionals impacted by catastrophes, had already been soliciting help following Hurricane Harvey.

“To tell of the devastation, one shop owner shared that his shop was buried in over 10 foot of debris and still had 6-7 feet of water inside,” CIF wrote in a news release. (It’s unclear which hurricane they were discussing.) “He lost everything, had no flood insurance, and more importantly, 30 of his employees are out of work with no income for themselves or their families.  Another manager at a dealership bodyshop shared that his painter and his family were air-lifted off the roof of their home with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.”

CIF coordinated about $250,000 in donations and helped about 150 households following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It provided more than 80 tool sets during that storm — often more important than other donations, as technicians felt, “‘If I had tools, I could work,’” according to trustee Jordan Hendler (Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association).

“CIF was there after Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy – and other natural disasters – to deliver aid to those professionals in our industry impacted,” CIF disaster relief Chairman Michael Quinn (Certified Collision Group) said in a statement Wednesday. “We have a dedicated group of volunteers that are working hard to identify those in need from within our industry and get them the help they need.  If you know of persons in need, please send them our way! And, if you want to help please donate at the CIF website.”

Donate here, and request aid here. You can also email collisionindustryfoundation@gmail.com or call 855-424- 3243 or 804-427-6982.

Also, don’t forget that the Collision Industry Foundation is on Amazon Smile. If you designate them as your charity and buy stuff on smile.amazon.com instead of the regular Amazon website, the retail giant will donate a little bit to the foundation every time you buy one of millions of designated products.

The group suggested other ways of managing your individual or business charity throughout the year, and we’ve reprinted the message here with minor style/formatting edits:

We all want to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey & Irma, especially our fellow collision repair brothers and sisters.  This work will be ongoing for at least one year as there are so many in need.  Here are some ideas to consider:

Donate now and every month at: http://collisionindustryfoundation.org/disaster-relief-hurricane-harvey/.

This coming Christmas season, instead of the usual office gift exchange consider adopting an industry family in need.

If you participate in any Rotary or other service organizations please let them know we exist and are seeking donations. 

Do you have an annual trade golf outing or other annual fundraising event you participate in? Request that this year’s proceeds go to the CIF Harvey & Irma Relief effort.

Easy, no cost — consider changing/editing your email signature to include this Harvey logo/link (and message):

“Your name etc.

“Contact info etc

“I’m making a difference with Hurricane Harvey & Irma by assisting my industry’s brothers and sisters devastated by this natural disaster.  100% of all funds go to those in need.

“Donate NOW to the Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) –  Harvey & Irma Relief Fund!

“Click image:

More information:

Donate to Collision Industry Foundation

Request Collision Industry Foundation assistance

Images:

This composite satellite image shows Hurricane Irma heading toward Florida Sept. 10, 2017. (Provided by NASA Earth Observatory)

The Collision Industry Foundation urged collision repairers to make this icon hyperlinking to its website a part of their email signatures to help encourage Hurricane Irma and Harvey relief for victims related to the collision industry. (Provided by Collision Industry Foundation)

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