Sheryl Crow car buyer doubles Joplin donation

The couple that won singer Sheryl Crow's 1959 Mercedes 190 SL during an Aug. 21 auction benefiting Joplin Schools Recovery Fund have doubled their donation to the fund.

The winning bidders, who have chosen to stay anonymous, paid $130,000 for the car, a Sheryl Crow Gibson guitar, two concert tickets and a photo opportunity. The auction - which took place during the annual Gooding & Co. auction in Pebble Creek, Calif. - surpassed expectations that the winning bidder would pay up to $80,000, according to a news release from Community Foundation of the Ozarks. CFO, along with the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri Inc., established the Joplin Schools Recovery Fund.

The couple matched their donation in Crow's name to benefit the school district, which sustained roughly $150 million in damages with three schools destroyed and seven damaged in the May 22 EF-5 tornado.

“I am so touched by the donor making this very generous contribution on my behalf to Joplin schools,” said Crow, a Missouri native and former Fenton school teacher, in the release. “It was such a pleasure to meet them and see their enthusiasm for this car, which was very special to me.

"They have done a wonderful thing in doubling the proceeds from the event.”

In addition to the doubled funding from the donors, Gooding & Co. also made a private donation to the school fund.

“This donation originally estimated at $50,000 to $80,000 has now raised more than $260,000 for Joplin schools,” CFO President Brian Fogle said in the release. “That’s a remarkable return, and we are very grateful for the additional contributions from the buyers and Gooding & Co. to boost the total."

Despite its destroyed and damaged schools, the Joplin school district opened on schedule Aug. 17, aided by the use of temporary facilities.[[In-content Ad]]