Following the devastating earthquake that hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Jan. 12, the Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) rallied the support of attendees of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Palm Springs for donations to be sent to the Red Cross to assist in recovery efforts.

Holding up the front page of the Jan. 14, 2010 issue of USA Today, which depicted photos of the aftermath of the earthquake, CIF’s Chair, Jeanne Silver, encouraged everyone to lend a hand with a donation of $5 or $10, although many people gave much more.

In total, the one day campaign raised $772 from attendees of the conference. “We hope our one-day effort inspires others to donate and to initiate similar efforts in their businesses and communities," says Silver. "We know that at times like this, no donation is too small, and we thank the CIC attendees for their spontaneous generosity.”

Russell Thrall III, Chairman of CIC adds, “While CIC is a forum to discuss issues specific to the collision industry, we know that in times of great need, the spirit of the industry always shines through.”

The Collision Industry Foundation recommends that any money collected for Haiti Relief be sent to a recognized charity, such as the Red Cross, which has developed a mobile text option so that donors can make a $10 contribution. (www.redcross.org)

The Foundation will also continue to serve as a conduit for donations to the Red Cross in the name of the Collision Industry. Donations may be made at the CIF website (www.collisionindustryfoundation.org) and should be marked “Haiti Relief.”