America's Automotive Trust and Its Partner Charities Unveil "Preserve the Passion"

National initiative aims to preserve and evolve car culture, community, and careers across the country.

TACOMA, Wash. (August 4, 2020): America's Automotive Trust and its partner organizations have unveiled a new movement aimed at preserving and evolving car culture throughout the North America, building the automotive enthusiast community, and creating new avenues to education and careers for those who love to work on cars.

The movement, called "Preserve the Passion", focuses on five key initiatives: Youth STEM Education; Workforce Development; Women Driving Change; Car Culture & Community; and Celebrating the Past, Present and Future of Mobility. Driving this movement are four prominent and influential automotive-minded nonprofits working together under a shared CEO: America's Automotive Trust, LeMay, America's Car Museum, RPM Foundation and TechForce Foundation.

"Imagine if nonprofits worked together to achieve a common goal," said CEO Jennifer Maher. That's what we're doing with Preserve the Passion. We're ensuring that our automotive workforce thrives, that our collectibles and history are cherished, and that car culture will be enjoyed for generations to come. How? By igniting the passion of young people and harnessing the combined resources and strengths of our organizations and those companies and individuals who have a stake in the future of the automobile industry."

"No one business or nonprofit can do it alone," Maher added. "We must collaborate and bring all our resources collectively into the lives of the next generation, so that they can be successful in pursuing the hobby, the knowledge, the technical education, the career, and the access they desire. If we’re serious not-for-profits, then we can work together instead of competing. We hope more museums, car shows, associations, auctions, employers, technical schools and nonprofits join us."

"This is a really exciting way of moving the ball forward and the kind of collaboration for which the automotive world has been crying out," said Corry McFarland, board chair of America's Automotive Trust. "Preserve the Passion is going to drive the future of car culture. Thanks to these efforts, the young people who are engaged today will become the designers, technicians, hobbyists and collectors of tomorrow. More women will become enthusiasts. Our workforce will be more secure. And the great cars of the past will be preserved, driven and admired for years to come. I couldn't be more proud to be involved in this movement."

"These organizations have been instrumental in supporting our students and programs in automotive and restoration," said Cody Metcalf, auto shop instructor with East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa. Arizona. "They've provided seed funding to launch our restoration program and resources for our automotive shop, and connected our students with some great VIP experiences. This new Preserve the Passion strategy perfectly aligns how they collaboratively support students, educators, and enthusiasts."

For more information about Preserve the Passion, please contact Mike Bush at 253-307-3225.

About America's Automotive Trust

America's Automotive Trust convenes like-minded nonprofits working together to preserve and evolve car culture, community, and careers. Its purpose is to fuel five key initiatives: Youth STEM Education, Workforce Development, Women Driving Change, Car Culture and Community; and Celebrating the Past, Present and Future of Mobility. As a part of those initiatives, America's Automotive Trust fosters the love of driving and a sense of community through Club Auto and Concours Club. America’s Automotive Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and its partner organizations include LeMay "America's Car Museum", TechForce Foundation, and RPM Foundation. For more information, visit www.americasautomotivetrust.org.

About TechForce Foundation

TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and spearheads an industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforce.org.