Volkswagen Holds National Field Meeting in New Orleans

Volkswagen Holds National Field Meeting in New Orleans

Automaker to Participate in Community Service Activities and Music-Based Philanthropy

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 250 Volkswagen of America, Inc. corporate and field employees will convene in New Orleans from Tuesday, January 16 through Thursday, January 18 for the company's National Field Meeting. While there, Volkswagen employees will help rebuild the city's public school music programs by donating Volkswagen-branded guitars and renovating a music classroom that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

"We chose New Orleans because it has always been a great place for business and entertainment," said Matthias Seidl, chief operating officer for the Volkswagen brand with responsibility for the field organization. "There is a correlation between the city and our company. We've both made progress the past year as Volkswagen sales are up 4.9 percent, while New Orleans has made vast improvements in rebuilding and re-establishing itself as an epicenter of culture and entertainment."

Seidl added, "The Volkswagen brand has long been recognized for its ties to music and art, and we look forward to bringing New Orleans back to its creative roots."

On Tuesday, January 16, 40 Volkswagen employees will rebuild the music room at Lafayette Academy on South Carrollton Ave. Armed with their personal supplies and materials donated by Home Depot, the volunteer employees will give the charter elementary/middle school's music room a new coat of paint, storage cabinets, and a music-themed wall mural. Volkswagen will also donate 56 First Act guitars to the Tipitina's Foundation -- four for each of the 13 public high schools in the city. Last year, Volkswagen announced a collaborative marketing partnership with First Act, Inc., a move that symbolized Volkswagen's long-standing history with music.

Representatives and student interns from the Tipitina's Foundation will accept the guitars on behalf of the schools at an event Thursday at Tipitina's French Quarter. The evening's highlights include a special performance by the students with well-known local artist Theresa Anderson.

"We welcome Volkswagen to New Orleans and appreciate their contributions to rebuilding the city's musical foundations," said Bill Taylor, executive director of the Tipitina's Foundation.

Volkswagen's National Field Meeting brings together the more than 250 employees who work day-to-day as liaisons between Volkswagen of America, Inc.'s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan and the nearly 600 U.S. dealers. The annual meeting is a platform to discuss 2007 business strategy.

About the Tipitina's Foundation

The Tipitina's Foundation originates from the Tipitina's music venue, a revered cultural icon established in 1977 that continues to be instrumental in the development and promotion of New Orleans music around the world. In its capacity as a 501 (c)(3) organization, the Tipitina's Foundation utilizes the Tipitina's Music Club venue as headquarters for Master Music Seminars, Foundation Benefit Concerts and now the Tipitina's musician's community center that houses one of three statewide Music Office Co-ops. The Tipitina's Foundation, established in 1997 perpetuates and expands the Tipitina's legacy of community service. The Instruments A-Comin' program has raised over $850,000 for New Orleans public school music program instruments. The foundation focuses its efforts and three programs on childhood music education, the professional development of adult musicians and the increased profile and viability of New Orleans music, as a cultural, educational, and economic resource.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.

Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

CONTACT: Keith Price of Volkswagen of America, Inc., +1-248-754-5064, or
cell +1-248-765-5295, or keith.price@vw.com

Web site: http://www.vw.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/948250.html

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