Fuel The future
Sponsor a 2026 Piston Scholar
Creating More Collector Car Technicians
We’re helping young car enthusiasts turn their interest into careers.
The shortage of qualified technicians and restoration specialists is the biggest challenge facing the collector car industry. So we are setting out to change this. By making skilled trade education and hands-on training more accessible for more people, the Piston Foundation aims to help build a new and diverse generation of tradespeople in the collector car industry.
Automotive Scholarship and Job Programs
Piston Scholarships
Skilled Trade Education Scholarships
The Piston Foundation helps students take their first steps towards a skilled trade career. If you are attending, accepted, or enrolled in a 2- or 4-year automotive technology program and have a strong interest in working with collector cars, a Piston Fund scholarship can help make school more affordable.
Piston Jobs
Building the Workforce That Will Sustain Car Culture
The Piston Jobs Program is the next step in our mission to fuel the careers of future technicians. This new and developing initiative will connect Piston Scholars with job opportunities across the collector car industry—helping restoration shops, private collections, and specialty businesses find the skilled talent they need.
From the Piston Blog
Piston Awards 30 Scholarships to 2025 Class of Future Technicians
Piston is thrilled to announce our 2025 Piston Scholars—30 exceptional students who share a passion for collector cars and the determination to master automotive trade skills.
Manual Transmission, Maximum Impact: Chris Gleason’s GR Corolla
Connecticut collector Chris Gleason transformed his manual-transmission Toyota GR Corolla into a Piston Foundation awareness vehicle, promoting hands-on driving experiences and skilled trade education before eventually auctioning it for the nonprofit’s programs.
Piston Scholar Zoe Carmichael Featured on Hot Wheels Local Legends
Piston Foundation alumna Zoe Carmichael was featured on Hot Wheels’ Local Legends for her workshop “Knowledge is Power” — an Auto 101 course empowering women with hands-on car skills and creating inclusive garage spaces.
Join Us
Make a Donation
Give to what you love by making a gift that helps the next generation access the education and training they need to begin a career as a classic car technician.
Sponsor a Scholar
Piston Foundation scholarships are awarded to aspiring technicians to help them begin an auto restoration career. Give to the car culture you love.
Donate a Car
Turn your collector car into education and hands-on training for aspiring collector car technicians. Your car can change lives. 100% goes to our scholarship program.
Community Partners
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