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Listen to Bob
Dorigo Jones's interview with Bob Knechel,
Executive Director.
Click on the controls to start audio. |
A
program that empasizes "hands-on education” and looks for
funding may find a new friend at the Collectors Foundation.
“Our goal is to pass on the love affair, knowledge, and
skillsets” that come with restoring historic vehicles, said
Bob Knechel, Executive Director of Collectors Foundation, in
a phone interview with CFA.
When a youth “gets” the manual arts, “it’s absolutely
thrilling to see a young person get excited about life!
It’s thrilling to accomplish what few others know how to
do,” continued Bob.
Programs from all over the nation are encouraged to apply
for grants from Collectors Foundation. The application
process is fairly simple, “we try to make it as easy as
possible to apply,” said Bob.
Since its inception, the Foundation has granted $1.8 million
to schools, museums, and anyone restoring historic
vehicles.
 A grant-winning program from Colorado, administered by
volunteer scientists and teachers, recently received seed
money to teach youth how to restore old vehicles and explore
new technologies. The Foundation also awards about 125
scholarships for college students, annually.
Through its efforts, the Foundation has impacted 250,000
school age kids, grades 1-8 with its museum contributions.
It has reached 1,500 to 2,000 high school youth using
equipment acquired with help from the Foundation.
The Foundation looks for programs that use airplanes, boats,
cars, motor-cycles as teaching tools. “This is about
mechanics and craftsmanship,” Bob said.
Grants may
be awarded to:
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Educational
institutions with specific programs,
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Vocational
high schools,
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At-risk
youth development programs, and
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Innovative
or collaborative programming
Contact: Bob Knechel, Executive Director
Collectors Foundation
141 River’s Edge Drive, Suite 200
Traverse City, MI 49684
231-932-6835 •
bob@collectorsfoundation.org
www.CollectorsFoundation.org
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