The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) 23rd Annual Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by PPG Automotive Finishes, held July 22 at the Philmont Country Club in Huntingdon, PA, brought together 120 golfers and nearly 30 sponsors to enjoy a day on the greens while raising more than $120,000 to support collision repair programs and students around the country.
The event also featured a National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides presentation, where two Philadelphia-area people in need to transportation received fully refurbished vehicles from the NABC.
“Thank you to all of our sponsors, golfers and volunteers who helped make the Foundation’s 2025 golf fundraiser such an incredible success,” said CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “Funds raised from this event allow CREF to continue supporting high school and college collision programs, students and instructors across the country.”
The winning team, from All Clear Diagnostics, consisted of Bill Weber, Andrew Gravelin, Marc Cuomo and Steve Zang.
Participants also had the chance to win prizes in individual hole contests. Although the hole-in-one prizes went unclaimed, Brandon Lowder of INDASA Abrasives won the prize for longest drive. Three participants walked away with cash prizes from CREF’s Annual Ball Drop: Roland Clerie of Wren’s Collision Group won $250, INDASA’s Tracy Samanka received $500, and Ray Markulics of Collision Refinish Specialists won $1,000. The ball drop raised more than $4,000 alone as the crowd purchased 558 balls.
During the reception following the day of golf, attendees heard from collision instructors Edwin Ortiz of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, PA, and Joe Amabile of Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical High School in Jamaica, NY, who shared insights about how much the support from CREF and the collision repair industry has meant to their programs and their students.
Additionally, CREF Board Chair Brenda Hogen spoke about the foundation’s mission and thanked attendees for participating in the day’s fundraiser.
“As we celebrate another successful golf fundraiser, planning has already started for the 2026 event, and we encourage any industry members to contact CREF and join in our efforts in supporting the future professionals of the industry,” Eckenrode said. “Once the location of the 2026 summer industry meetings is finalized, which will be where the CREF golf fundraiser is held, we will be sharing support opportunities with the industry.”
NABC Recycled Rides Presentation
The NABC Recycled Rides presentation was made possible by vehicle donor Allstate and repair partner Crash Champions, both Level One members of the NABC. Family Promise of Philadelphia, a national partner with the NABC, nominated the two recipients.
Quenzell Robinson received a 2017 Ford Explorer. Robinson, a committed student currently attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), has consistently demonstrated resilience and determination, balancing academic success with the weight of difficult financial decisions.
Robinson recently secured a competitive internship in Washington, D.C., that could be a gateway to launching his career, but he lacked reliable access to a car to be able to participate.
“This will take away a great amount of stress, getting back and forth to work and to school,” Robinson said. “I really appreciate it. Now I can move forward and take a stake in this world.”
Tonia Harris received a 2019 Jeep Compass. Harris has overcome joblessness and housing instability to build a better life for her children and herself. She has gone from being in the Family Promise shelter to public housing and now to a home of her own.
Recently, Harris took another step up, moving her children to a better school district. Her career growth has been just as remarkable. From early days earning minimum wage at a daycare, she has worked her way up to become the director of a home care agency, where she gives back through volunteer work and community involvement. Today, Harris is a business analyst at a major insurance company. She has become a true example of what resilience, determination and support can create.
“It’s such an important thing—people don’t realize,” Harris said about having reliable transportation.” I am so grateful to the partners. Thank you. We need each other.”
Additional partners in the presentations included Eye Can Fix That (ECFT), AutoZone, The Polished Anchor Detail, Bergey’s Wholesale Parts, C & J Automotive, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity and Copart.
