George Hunter was the heir of Benjamin Thomas, and much of the wealth related to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company passed on to the Foundation.

[2] Upon George Hunter's death in 1950, 70 percent of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company stock went to the Foundation.

This led to a probate law precedent-setting lawsuit when family members sued regarding the tax status of the donation.

A 1952 court ruling stated that the Foundation did not have to pay death duties, which became the responsibility of the residuary estate.

[3] The Foundation's grantmaking focus is on Public Education, Arts & Culture, the Environment, and Neighborhood & Community Development.