Volkswagen of America on Friday unveiled a $100,000 donation to the Lookout Mountain Conservancy, supporting the group's mission of land conservation through environmental education and sustainable recreation.
"We are very selective about who we align with," said Robyn Carlton, chief executive officer at Lookout Mountain Conservancy, in a statement. "You might wonder how a car manufacturer and a land trust would make for suitable partners. It's because we share core values of environmental sustainability and community engagement with our neighbor, Volkswagen, and we are excited about the work we can do together."
The conservancy works with families and landowners, assisting them on a voluntary basis to conserve lands that are locally and regionally important along the 93 miles of Lookout Mountain spanning Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.
Located across the city from Volkswagen's manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, the organization uses its outdoor classroom to foster love of the land and learning through youth education programs, internships and support to conserve lands deemed critical for clean air and water, according to the conservancy. It also supports the local community to establish parks, trails and natural areas for current and future generations to enjoy.
According to Volkswagen, supporting the conservancy underscores the automaker's sustainability commitments and to make a positive impact in the communities where its employees work and live. The company said it has committed to the targets of the Paris Agreement with a long-term goal of becoming net carbon-neutral by 2050 and to make a substantial contribution in mitigating climate change while becoming a highly respected brand in sustainable mobility.
"Our goal is to become a benchmark for environmental responsibility in our industry, an automaker that inspires people not just through our vehicles, but as a global citizen," said Chris Glover, president and CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga, in a statement. "That starts here in our backyard, helping organizations like Lookout Mountain Conservancy protect this land we love."
Volkswagen's Chattanooga production facility uses 100% renewable electricity as it is home to one of the largest industrial solar fields of a U.S. automaker.
- Compiled by Mike Pare