Notre Dame's restoration surplus of nearly $150M will be used for future preservation
Nearly $1 billion in donations were pledged within days of the fire that ravaged Paris' Notre Dame cathedral five years ago
PARIS (AP) — More than five years after the devastating fire ravaged Notre Dame, igniting nearly $1 billion in pledged donations within days, restoration chief Philippe Jost says €140 million (around $148 million) still remains from the funds as the cathedral prepares to reopen next month.
The surplus, sourced from both billionaire benefactors and countless small donors, will be used to support vital future preservation work on the 861-year-old Gothic monument.
Jost praised the generosity after the fire and the management of the restoration funds that were "entrusted to someone very attentive and professional," he told a news conference in Paris.
He noted that these funds will be used “in agreement with the patrons and donors to carry out needed work campaigns,” as Notre Dame faces continued demands for preservation and structural integrity.
