• by Danielle Oster , January 6, 2025

Image courtesy of The Carter Foundation

Coca-Cola – arguably the company most closely associated with the state of Georgia – is honoring the late President Jimmy Carter, the only President born in the state, through nonprofit donations.

The Coca-Cola Company announced it was donating $250,000 each to two charities associated with Carter’s humanitarian work following his time in office: The Carter Center, and Habitat for Humanity.

Founded by  President Carter and his wife Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University in 1982, The Carter Center’s work  in pursuit of the goal of advancing human rights and democracy helped lead to Carter receiving a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

The noted Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit focused on building and repairing affordable housing with which Carter was closely associated, and with whom he started an annual “Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project “ home building marathon project.

“President Carter was a tireless advocate for education, health, peace and justice for all,” The Coca-Cola Company CEO James Quincey said in a statement. “His principles and legacy of values-driven leadership will continue to inspire here in Georgia and around the country and world.”

A release announcing the news notes Carter’s “close relationship with The Coca-Cola Company” and its former president, chairman, and CEO J. Paul Austin, developed during Carter’s tenure as Georgia’s governor.

Carter converted the White House back to Coca-Cola products after being elected -- following the Pepsi-preferring Nixon and Ford administrations -- and appointed Charles Duncan, president of The Coca-Cola Company from 1970-71, to roles as Deputy Secretary of Defense and, later, Secretary of Energy.

The company also shared the news, and honored Carter’s legacy, with posts on its social media pages.

The announcement follows Coca-Cola announcement that it is pulling back on a number of environmental goals, and pushing back the timeline on achieving those goals.

Home Depot -- the largest company headquartered in Georgia, according to Zippia -- also made a donation of $250,000 to Habitat for Humanity, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.