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.
Join Us
Make a Gift
Supporting the Piston Foundation with a tax deductible donation is the way all of us who share a passion for cars can help build a sustainable future for our car community.
Become a Founder
The Founders Club is a unique opportunity to join fellow car enthusiasts and collectors who are helping us create skilled trade education and career paths in the collector car industry.
Partner with Us
Join our Partner Program and connect the charitable giving of your business with the grassroots needs of the car community and the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
From the Piston Blog
Tom Truitt: Car Enthusiast and People Relations Expert
Tom Truitt is The Piston Foundation’s new Donor Relations specialist. He has been a car enthusiast all his life, using his extensive knowledge to connect with like-minded individuals and share his appreciation for automobiles.
The Piston Foundation Automotive Trades Scholarship Application is Now Open
The application period for Piston Fund automotive trades scholarship is open until July 15th, 2022. Individuals who are accepted or enrolled in a 2- or 4-year automotive technology skilled trade program and have a strong interest in collector car restoration and service can apply to be considered for a scholarship award of up to $5,000.
The 2022 Founders Club Poster By Guy Allen
To recognize the significant donations car community leaders make to the Foundation’s mission, we memorialize their names on our yearly Founders Club poster. This year, we worked with renowned artist Guy Allen to create “Making Progress”, our Founders Club 2022 poster.
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