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Letter to the Editor

CCC Information Services and Mitchell International Team Up to Donate Computers to Hurricane Katrina Victims

“The collision repair industry relies heavily on technology for estimating, business management and communication,” said Chuck Sulkala, co-founder and executive director of the National Auto Body Council (NABC). “When these tools are lost or damaged beyond repair, the industry loses its lifeline and ability to do business. The same holds true for the people in our industry. When they lose their household computer, they, too, lose a lifeline. This effort is to help get them reconnected to normalcy.”

Knowing how serious the circumstances were for some collision repairers, the CIF and the NABC quickly formed Collision Industry Relief. The computer donation effort was the brainchild of John Junk, senior vice president of SCA Appraisal Company, and one of the senior specialists working to help collision repairers in New Orleans and other affected areas, assisting them in the wake of Katrina’s devastation.

“It was a heart-wrenching scene, one that compelled me to get these people the computers they so desperately needed,” Junk commented. “My first and immediate thoughts were to go to the source — the technology providers to our industry — and tell my story. Since I knew Mitchell and CCC extremely well, I approached them, and before long I had a commitment. Once that happened, everything else fell into place.”

The technology providers leapt at the opportunity to assist. Mary Jo Prigge, president of Service Operations for CCC, and Jack Farnan, Mitchell International’s vice president of human resources, came forward on behalf of their respective companies, expediting a combined donation of approximately 75 end-of-lease and other customer-returned laptops. In addition, CCC contributed $25,000 in cash toward relief efforts.

“The importance of electronic communication became clear as the nation watched family and friends struggle to connect with each other following the hurricane,” said Prigge. “CCC is happy to provide an additional tool to renew their lines of communication and ease one of their continuing challenges.”

“Mitchell International is very proud to have had the opportunity to participate in and serve the collision repair industry for the past 60 years, and is grateful for the industry’s loyalty and support,” stated Farnan. “It is our privilege to be able to give something back to the many without whom we would not enjoy our persistent success. We are extremely happy to support the Collision Industry Foundation and its relief effort for our industry colleagues.”

“Imagine, in this day and age, trying to conduct business or even daily living without being connected to the Internet or having access to e-mail,” said Michael Quinn of 911 Collision Centers in Tucson, Arizona, Collision Industry Relief effort co-founder and committee chair. “The computers donated by CCC and Mitchell will help get our people back on the road to recovery and allow them to spend the precious resources they have on food, furnishings and other basics. This is real assistance for our people.”

“Charity goes a lot further in a person’s mind and heart than tax write-offs and depreciation,” concluded Junk. “I think CCC and Mitchell’s actions speak to that ideal and show the true spirit of what this industry is all about.”

In just over seven months the Foundation has generated donations of over $175,000 for industry people in need as the result of natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires and floods. Funds go towards buying tools and other supplies, household goods and clothing. With $150,000 already put to work on behalf of the less fortunate, the Foundation continues to look for those willing to contribute, as demand for aid continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.

The Collision Industry Foundation seeks to raise funds through projects and initiatives that provide for charitable or educational causes reflecting the character and heart of the men and women of the collision repair industry. This includes the Collision Industry Relief effort, a project within the Collision Industry Foundation to help collision industry victims of current disasters and those that may happen in the future. For more information, visit the website at www.collisionindustryrelief.org. All donations made are tax-deductible.

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