MBCA Educational Foundation Announces  Grants for 10 Chapters
Bryan F. Gunning, MBCAEF, President

The Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc. Educational Foundation (MBCAEF) was founded in 1997 to preserve the history and heritage of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. We have defined that as supporting automotive technical education. Such as education for automotive technicians. We have been successful in this regard with our support of the McPherson College’s Automotive Restoration Program. We started supporting them in 2001 and have brought leading Mercedes-Benz authorities to the Automotive Restoration Program. Another success was brokering an internship between McPherson College and Mercedes-Benz Classic Centers in Fellbach Germany and California. MBCA Pikes Peak, Wichita, Central Oklahoma and Kansas City Chapters have been strong supporters of the restoration program for over two decades.

As you might recall McPherson College’s Automotive Restoration Program recently took Second Place in their class with a 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet that they restored over eight years.

The MBCAEF would like to work with local chapters to bring the enthusiasm we have for Mercedes-Benz to local automotive vocational high schools and colleges. To that end we have set aside $500 each for the first ten chapters who agree to establish a long-term relationship with their local automotive vocational high school or college.

Recently we discovered that MBUSA has two programs for their dealers to establish relationships with local automotive vocational high schools (MB StarConnect) and colleges (MB Campus).  This is a way for MB Dealers to establish a pipeline for future technicians.

Interested in bringing your enthusiasm for Mercedes-Benz to young students studying to be automotive technicians at one of these schools or one not listed? Contact the school first and find out if they would like your chapter’s involvement and what you can bring to the relationship.

It could mean inviting the students to a technical session you are having. Supporting their annual car show. Asking for students to volunteer at one of your events. The goal is to encourage the students to pursue a career as a Mercedes-Benz technician and have them meet their future customers (you) and for you to bring your knowledge and passion for Mercedes-Benz to them.  Be welcoming and encouraging of them.

To apply for the grant, please provide your name, address, phone number, email address and position in your chapter. Please provide the name of the school, contact name, address, phone and email address. Brief description of your conversation with the school and what your involvement will be. What your first event with the school will be.

Also, submit to The Star magazine a write up of the event(s) you hold with the school. In your article please state: “Funds for this event were provided by the Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Educational Foundation”.  Any additional public relations press releases listing the MBCAEF as a supporter is appreciated.

This money is a one-time grant, to help you establish a long-term relationship with an automotive vocational school.

Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc. and Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Inc. Educational Foundation are neither owned nor operated by Mercedes-Benz USA.

Contact: Bryan F. Gunning