Toronto, Ontario — September 11, 2015 — Haiti ARISE has joined the Car Heaven vehicle retirement program with funds raised going to support the Haiti Arise Technical School.
The Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) and the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) have joined together to support Haiti Arise Technical School. Their goal is to provide the resources to build a collision repair teaching facility, including a classroom and shop, to provide desperately needed education on proper collision repairs in the county. The project will create a long-term sustainable educational program to improve the lives of thousands of Haitian families and create positive change in the community and country.
Car Heaven is a vehicle retirement program of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) where older vehicles are towed free of charge to a certified ARC Member. They buy the vehicle and 100 percent of that amount is donated to charities like Haiti ARISE. The vehicle donor receives a tax receipt for the scrap and parts value of their vehicle. Since 2000, Car Heaven has raised over $4 million for Canadian charities.
“We are grateful to ARC for providing Haiti Arise with the opportunity to be a part of Car Heaven,” says Leanne Jefferies, Director of Collision Programs with AIA Canada. “This program is a perfect fit. End-of-life vehicles are retired in a safe, and environmentally sound way and money is raised to make a difference in Haiti, where education on safe vehicle collision repair is not available. Thank you Car Heaven and ARC for your support!”
The Haiti ARISE Technical Institute exists to provide quality and practical education and hands-on training in skilled trades and technical studies to the people of Haiti. The original school facility had just been completed before the January 12, 2010 earthquake, which severely damaged it beyond repair.
Reconstruction of the original school is completed and now collision repair industry stakeholders in Canada and the US are working together to raise the funds needed to build a teaching facility to bring desperately needed education in proper collision repair to Haiti. The goal is to create a long-term sustainable educational program to improve the lives of thousands of Haitian families and create positive change in the community and country.
“Auto recyclers have long supported the CCIF and once we heard about Haiti ARISE we knew that we could help raise more funds and awareness of this great initiative,” said Steve Fletcher, Managing Director of ARC. “Old cars can have a new life and help bring much needed education and resources to Haiti through Car Heaven.”
For more information, please visit haitiarise.org.
