clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Coca-Cola Celebrates a Birthday, Gives Seriously Sweet Gifts

New, 8 comments

Atlanta's hometown company for 130 years, Coca-Cola unveils historic marker, donates $1.8 million to the neighborhood

In celebration of its 130th birthday, Coca-Cola has announced a $1.8 million contribution to bolster the Centennial Park District neighborhood near the site of the first Coke's sale back in 1886.

The announcement came at the unveiling of a new historical marker at Five Points, where Jacobs' Pharmacy once stood.

The money will go to five different causes, with the majority of the funds — $1 million — going toward the expansion of Centennial Olympic Park. The company is not the first contributor to the project, which got a major boost when the Woodruff Foundation contributed $10 million, providing almost enough funds for the purchase of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce building, which will be demolished to gain park space.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, other beneficiaries of the beverage company's benevolence include:

  • The PATH Foundation, which received $500,000 to better connect Centennial Olympic Park to the westside via a reconfiguration and beautification of Ivan Allen Boulevard.
  • The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which received $250,000 to support field trips for students across the metro area.
  • The Atlanta Union Mission, which received $50,000 to support vocational training for women at the shelter.
  • And the Atlanta Children's Museum, which received $30,000 to support new exhibits this year.

For Atlantans with a passion for downtown, these sound like justifiable reasons to have a Coke and a smile today.

...

Centennial Olympic Park

285 International Boulevard NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 404 223 4412 Visit Website