April 25, 2012—The Collision Repair Education Foundation has awarded Cypress College in Cypress, Calif., a portion of Solera’s Matching Makeover grant.

The Solera grant was made available to California secondary and post-secondary schools. Thanks to the grant, Cypress College will get $50,000 worth of tools, equipment and supplies to benefit its collision program.

Half of the grant – $25,000 – comes from a $100,000 donation made to the CREF in 2010 by Solera Holdings Inc. and its CEO, Tony Aquila. Industry supporters of the Matching Makeover grant program make the other half of the grant possible. Supporters include ALLDATA, Assured Performance Network, Fix Auto and others.

“Collision technical schools, ours included, are dependent upon industry partnerships such as this,” said Cypress College Auto Collision Instructor Dan Snook. “It is the support of partnerships and educational grants that make it possible to train students at the highest level. Future technicians receive hands-on training using the latest equipment and products provided by our industry partners, ensuring students will be trained to the highest level before entering the automotive collision repair industry.”

Rick Tuuri, vice president of industry relations for Audatex, a Solera Company, said it’s pleased to provide and sponsor the grant program.

“It is important to Tony Aquila that we make a lasting difference for collision repair students, and transforming Cypress College helps to achieve that goal,” he said. “At Solera, we believe that life is full of transformation. As a result, we have developed our L.I.F.T. program to help others succeed through their life changes. We would also like to thank the additional industry partners that have come on board to participate in this Matching Makeover grant program for Cypress College. Only through industry members coming together to support its future professionals will we have the greatest impact.”