BETHESDA, MD – The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) have announced matching $25,000 contributions to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation to be used specifically to support additional scholarships for students interested in careers in the motor vehicle aftermarket.
“I am extremely pleased with AWDA’s and AAIA’s willingness to step up and vigorously support aftermarket scholarships. Education has been at the core of both associations’ missions. The combined $50,000 in scholarship funds will benefit many deserving young people,” said Rusty Bishop, Foundation chairman, and CEO of Federated Auto Parts.
AWDA Chairman Bill Maggs, president, National Pronto Association, said, “This is what our AWDA Funds are all about. With Rusty at the leadership of University of the Aftermarket Foundation, I am confident this contribution will help our industry and provide for future aftermarket talent.”
“Momentum is growing to support and promote the fact that the car care industry is a great place to work,” said Tim Lee, AAIA chair. “Part of the attraction is our commitment to education and training. Through AAIA and AWDA, we are putting our money where our mouths are in support of scholarships to help attract and retain the best and the brightest young employees.”
“It is the Foundation’s hope that these contributions will spur additional giving,” said Bishop. “To this point, the University of the Aftermarket Foundation has had great success, but I believe that we, as an industry, can do even more to make education more readily available to those who seek an aftermarket career.”
Those interested in offering financial support to the University of the Aftermarket Foundation can click on this link http://www.women.carcare.org/assets/Foundation%20Donation%20form%202012.pdf to download the donation form.
About the University of the Aftermarket Foundation
Since 1986, the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (formerly the AWDA University Foundation) has provided funding for aftermarket educational programs and research. Through its grant program, the Foundation and its donors ensure that education has a positive, stabilizing influence on the future of the aftermarket. The Foundation reached a milestone during the fourth quarter of 2006 by surpassing $5 million in donations during its ongoing endowment campaign. For more information about the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, call (816) 584-0511.
About AWDA
The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) was founded in 1947 and joined forces with AAIA in 2004. It is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers of parts, accessories tools and other supplies for the automotive aftermarket. AWDA membership consists of approximately 250 warehouse distributors and more than 300 manufacturers, as well as jobbers, affiliates, marketing associations, manufacturer representatives and other companies that support traditional distribution of vehicle parts. The 600-plus members collectively represent many hundreds of facilities and thousands of employees.
