Grant Law’s family name has been known in our city for longer than the Foundation has been in existence.

Since 1929, the family was in auto sales here in Chattanooga, up until he sold Newton Chevrolet and Newton GMC-Mitsubishi to dedicate more time to family and community involvement.

Since making that transition, Mr. Law has approached his new work with the same values that his father and grandfather ran the business.

“We always concentrated on how we treated people,” he said.

Just ask the United Way, Arts Build, the YMCA, Rotary, Memorial Health Care System, PEF, Tennessee River Gorge Trust and many other area nonprofits, including the Community Foundation, who have benefited from his generosity and his quiet, selfless leadership.

“Since I first became involved with the Foundation 25 years ago, I have looked at it as being a primary convener of problem solvers,” he said. “If there’s a need, then the Foundation can help bring together members of the community to address the situation, and begin working together toward a solution. People from different backgrounds from disparate parts of the community, who might not even know one another well, can work together here.”

Because it sits at this crossroads, the Foundation can help the community know, and understand, important needs that they might otherwise miss.

“One really nice thing is if there is a particular need that I am not aware of, that I might be interested in, they are positioned to let me know about it. Matching these needs with members of the community who are capable of helping address those needs through charitable giving might be the most important thing for the future of the Community Foundation. I run all my charitable giving through the fund.”

Through his own Donor Advised Fund, Mr. Law has maintained a particular giving focus on education — coming alongside the Foundation’s work with early childhood education programs.

“I think the betterment of the future of our community begins with having a better educated citizen. That starts with our children. We’ve got to read with them, talk with them, especially in the Pre-Kindergarten years.”

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