BETHESDA, Md. (March 10, 2016) — The Car Care Council Women's Board (WB) will award a record $50,000 in scholarships to female students studying to enter the auto care industry in 2016.
The WB raised more than $15,000 in its first 5k/Fun Run fundraiser, Scholarship Strides, with all proceeds contributing to its annual scholarship program, during the recent 2016 Women's Board Winter Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla.
“Each year we strive to increase the amount of scholarships we can give and the success of this fundraiser shows how much our membership takes that to heart,” said Vonda Lee, Women's Board education and development committee chair.
“This year we managed to nearly double the $28,000 that we awarded in 2015.”
In 2015, the WB gave away eight scholarships — four to postsecondary students and four to high school students. The Becky Babcox Women's Board scholarship recipient, a postsecondary student, received $5,000 and a trip to the 2015 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.
The Scholarship Strides fundraiser collected donations online from industry members as well as friends and family of the WB membership and conference attendees. The scholarship program also is funded by donations, sponsorships and a grant from the University of the Aftermarket Foundation.
The WB is now accepting applications on its website. The deadline is March 31.