A storm relief fund seeded last week by a $100,000 donation from Volkswagen’s Chattanooga operations has now reached $1.1 million.
“That was one of our really good ideas,” said Hans-Herbert Jagla, executive vice president of human resources for VW in Chattanooga.
The German automaker teamed with the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga to create the Volkswagen Tornado Relief Fund after last week’s storms.
Pete Cooper, the foundation’s president, said the McKenzie Foundation also provided a significant lead gift. Most of the other donors that provided or pledged gifts are individuals, he said.
“It’s an amazing community,” Cooper said, declining to name the other donors.