a public charity
serving the
car community
our mission
Helping To Build a New Generation of Automotive Tradespeople
The Piston Foundation’s mission is to bring more young people into the collector car industry. By funding skilled trades programs in collector cars, we’re working to help today’s craftspeople transfer their skills to a new generation and help young technicians build rewarding careers in the trades and services of the collector car industry.
What we do
We direct the charitable giving from car enthusiasts back into the car community, helping to build awareness and respect for automotive skilled trade career choices.
Our goal is to fund skilled trade education for automotive students and to develop and establish vehicle restoration apprentices. We’re creating career opportunities for people who want to take a different path and we’re helping to build a new generation of automotive tradespeople.
Who We Serve
We support students seeking skilled trade education as an alternative path to a rewarding career, different from the “college-at-all-costs” approach and help working auto technicians find apprenticeship placement and achieve a career in collector car restoration and services.
We serve restoration shops and auto industry businesses who need skilled technicians and specialists ready to learn the craft and trade, and we serve the car enthusiast community who want to continue to enjoy their hobby, share their passion, and keep their beloved cars on the road.
we’re car enthusiasts, too
Everyone in our organization has a passion and a drive for keeping vintage, classic, and collector cars on the road.
Our founder, Robert P. Minnick, has always been a car guy and sees the Piston Foundation as the way in which he, and others like him, can give back and affect real positive change in the car community.
GIVE TO WHAT YOU LOVE
Young or old, we all love classic cars. A generation of craftspeople built rewarding careers keeping these cars on the road. Now they’re retiring and the collector car industry needs new technicians. Young people are interested in learning the trade, but they need help from the car community to get the education and hands-on training they need.
The high cost of education and limited access to hands-on training makes it difficult for young car enthusiasts to enter the auto restoration industry. Together, we can help aspiring technicians overcome these barriers and put them on a career path into the collector car industry.
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.
Give to What You Love
Make a gift that helps the next generation access the education and training they need to begin a career as a classic car technician. Gifts of any size are appreciated and will be used to fund our scholarship and apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor a Piston Scholar
Piston Foundation scholarships are awarded to aspiring technicians to help them begin an auto restoration career. Give to the car culture you love. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Cars for Piston Scholars
Turn your collector car into education and hands-on training for aspiring collector car technicians. Your car can change lives. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Give to What You Love
Make a gift that helps the next generation access the education and training they need to begin a career as a classic car technician. Gifts of any size are appreciated and will be used to fund our scholarship and apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor a Piston Scholar
Piston Foundation scholarships are awarded to aspiring technicians to help them begin an auto restoration career. Give to the car culture you love. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
Cars for Piston Scholars
Turn your collector car into education and hands-on training for aspiring collector car technicians. Your car can change lives. 100% goes to fund scholarships.
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