By SEMA News Editors
Sage Automotive Interiors Collaborates with Austin Hatcher Foundation
Sage Automotive Interiors recently collaborated with the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer to help benefit families affected by pediatric cancer.
Sage has provided Dinamica premium suede for the interior of the Foundation's Factory Five Racing Type 65 Coupe, which debuted this week at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and will be auctioned online.
The partnership between the Austin Hatcher Foundation and Sage Automotive Interiors blends automotive design innovation with a mission of healing and education. The Foundation annually creates a hands-on experience, where youth recovering from pediatric cancer work with automotive experts to engineer, fabricate, design and produce a Type 65 Coupe. This unique program engages children and siblings in STEM-based trades while simultaneously addressing the coordination, learning and behavioral challenges often caused by childhood cancer and its treatment.
"This collaboration with Sage Automotive Interiors brings world-class materials and craftsmanship into our program," said Amy Jo Osborn, CEO and co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. "It's a meaningful way to demonstrate how innovation and compassion can work hand in hand to create impact--both on the road and in the lives of children and families we serve."
The Type 65 Coupe, which pays homage to the original '65 World Championship Daytona Coupe, features a custom Dinamica suede dashboard and trim, offering a refined aesthetic and tactile experience that complements the car's performance pedigree. Dinamica reflects Sage's focus on delivering both performance and luxury, perfectly aligning with the foundation's mission to inspire and empower the next generation of young designers and engineers.
The completed Type 65 Coupe was unveiled at the 2025 SEMA Show. It was displayed as part of the Austin Hatcher Foundation's ongoing Automotive Therapy and STEM Education Initiative. Following SEMA, the vehicle will be sold on Bring a Trailer Auctions, with all the proceeds benefiting families affected by pediatric cancer.
I-CAR Announces National Award Winners at SEMA Show
The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) recognized the achievements of several industry members during last week's SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Each year, I-CAR presents two collision repair industry awards--the Russ Verona Memorial Award for Gold Class collision repair shops and the Jeff Silver Memorial Award for Platinum individuals--to celebrate exceptional dedication to training, professionalism, and the advancement of complete, safe, and quality repairs.
Both 2024 awards were earned by the same team: Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster and its manager, April Lausch.
Jeff Silver Memorial Award for Platinum Individuals
Recipient: April Lausch, Manager, Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster (Lancaster, PA)
The Jeff Silver Memorial Award honors an individual who exemplifies the spirit of I-CAR's Platinum designation--the highest individual credential in the collision repair profession--and who has maintained Platinum status for at least five consecutive years.
Lausch, who has held Platinum status since 2009, is widely recognized as a tireless advocate for technician education, workforce development and community engagement. As chair of the Central Pennsylvania I-CAR Committee, she has championed countless programs designed to elevate industry standards and inspire new technicians, according to the organization.
Lausch serves as vice president of the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Foundation Board, on several Occupational Advisory Committees across Pennsylvania and on the National Auto Body Council Board of Directors, where she also chairs the First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.) program. Through these roles, she has helped hundreds of students, first responders, and early-career technicians gain access to the tools and training needed to build successful careers.
"April's leadership and commitment to excellence represent everything I-CAR stands for," said Kyle Thompson, I-CAR's CEO and president. "Her passion for mentoring the next generation, her advocacy for Platinum training, and her impact on both industry and community make her a most deserving recipient of this award."
Russ Verona Memorial Award for Gold Class Shops
Recipient: Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster (Lancaster, PA)
The Russ Verona Memorial Award recognizes a Gold Class collision repair business that demonstrates ongoing leadership, commitment to training and an unwavering focus on professionalism and customer care.
Under Lausch's direction, Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster has maintained I-CAR Gold Class status since 2015 and continues to set the benchmark for quality and innovation across Faulkner's growing network of soon-to-be ten collision centers throughout Pennsylvania.
The shop holds BMW, Porsche, Tesla and Volvo certifications and has been recognized by BMW of North America as one of the top-performing BMW collision centers in the United States--finishing first on the list in 2023 and second in 2024.
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