Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations announced today it has established a $100,000 tornado assistance fund to assist storm-ravaged victims in the Chattanooga area.

"In the aftermath of the powerful storms that hit the Chattanooga area recently, our immediate concern is for those who were directly affected and our thoughts are with our neighbors in the region, particularly those who have lost loved ones," said Frank Fischer, CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga.

The Volkswagen Tornado Assistance Fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. This will allow the funds to be directed to those agencies that are best able to help storm victims quickly.

The Community Foundation will establish an online donation portal in the next week that will allow others in the community to direct funds to this single point of contact and thus ensure that their donation is directly helping their neighbors.

"This donation by Volkswagen is in the highest standards of the spirit of this community, said Pete Cooper, president of the Community Foundation. "Volkswagen, as an important part of this community, has certainly responded in a substantial, appropriate manner."