Advance Auto Parts donates $25,000 for scholarship, Project Taillight
Student News | Monday, July 24, 2023
Above: A $25,000 check from the Advance Auto Parts Foundation is presented to Columbus State on July 21 in the Automotive Technology Lab. From left to right: Robert Gonzalez, student; Alex Stewart, student; Ian Andrews, associate professor; Jason Lucas, Advance Auto Parts; John Bowling, Advance Auto Parts; and students Mouhamed Elba, Isaac Darko Boamah, and Daniel Solano.
As Project Taillight continues to expand, the Advance Auto Parts Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Advance Auto Parts, has donated $25,000 to the Columbus State Foundation, which will partially supplement Project Taillight. In addition to helping extend the program, the money will also establish a scholarship at Columbus State Community College and enhance recruitment efforts in the college’s Automotive Technology Program.
“The Advance Auto Parts Foundation is proud to support Columbus State’s automotive technology program and their efforts to assist motorists through Project Taillight,” said Elisabeth Eisleben, Foundation president. “We’re passionate about creating pathways for aspiring automotive service and repair technicians. Through this unique program, students receive valuable, hands-on experience while completing vehicle repairs that make a positive impact on members of the local community.”
Project Taillight was established in 2020 by the city of Columbus and the Franklin County Commissioners to provide free repair services for broken or burned-out safety lights in residents’ vehicles. The goal is to improve community safety by connecting low-income residents with proactive headlight, taillight, license plate light, and/or turn signal repair services free of charge.
“We know that non-violent crime is often linked to poverty and lack of economic opportunity, and the City Attorney’s Office remains committed to finding creative ways to promote public safety and meet the needs of our neighbors,” said Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein. “That’s why we introduced Project Taillight—a program that’s making a difference by lifting a financial burden for lower-income folks, keeping our roads safer for all drivers, and allowing law enforcement to focus more time on urgent issues like violent crime in our community.”
The vehicle repairs are performed by students enrolled in Columbus State Community College’s Automotive Technology program.
“Part of the mission of Columbus State is to serve the community,” said Ian Andrews, assistant professor of Engineering & Transportation Technologies. “This program, which assists needs-based car owners with safety-related repairs, is a modest way we can give back that appears to have a big impact for the folks coming through the program.”
Franklin County residents in households with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible to participate in this program. So far, more than 200 residents have been helped by the program, which is offered at occasional inspection events.
Fifty thousand dollars in federal grant money and a $25,000 investment from the Columbus Department of Public Safety provided seed money for the initial launch. Earlier this year, Columbus City Council provided an additional $175,000 to support the program and expand the types of repairs covered. Columbus State, Lindsey Automotive, and Mr. Transmission Milex Complete Auto Care are the current Project Taillight repair partners.
To participate in the Project Taillight program, residents must be pre-registered through the Columbus City Attorney’s Office following the eligibility screening.
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