Chrysler Brand Returns as Detroit Jazz Festival Presenting Sponsor

Festival, "Imported from Detroit" campaign work together to bring one-of-a-kind experiences

DETROIT--April 12, 2013: The Detroit Jazz Festival today announced the Chrysler brand is once again taking on the role as the official presenting sponsor of the world's largest free jazz festival and a major out-of-state tourist attraction for the City of Detroit. 

For the second year in a row, the Chrysler brand will serve as presenting sponsor of the Festival, again extending its "Imported from Detroit" campaign. In addition to bringing one-of-a-kind experiences to music enthusiasts, the Detroit Jazz Festival seeks to positively impact the Detroit region and its communities, and partnering with the Chrysler brand is a perfect alignment of the Festival's mission and the purpose of "Imported from Detroit" campaign, which celebrates the spirit and determination of Detroit and its residents.

"Not only is the Detroit Jazz Festival a world-class arts and education contributor, it's an economic booster for the city and one of the many beautiful stories that continues to be 'Imported from Detroit,' said Saad Chehab, President and CEO - Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.  "The Detroit Jazz Festival spreads the message about the beauty of Detroit and provides an enriching cultural experience for jazz and music lovers across the country.  The people and the commitment behind these events is what continue to inspire the Chrysler brand's 'Imported from Detroit' campaign."

The Chrysler brand will serve as the presenting sponsor for the Labor Day weekend concerts as well as the many year-round initiatives, including the Detroit Jazz Festival Community Series concerts and the Festival's annual, national musician and arranger competitions. In addition, the Chrysler brand is also the exclusive official automotive sponsor; the brand will celebrate its Detroit-inspired cars such as the 2013 Chrysler 300 Motown Edition, the 2013.5 Chrysler 200 S Special Edition featuring Detroit's legendary brand, Carhartt, and the 2013 Chrysler 300 John Varvatos Limited Edition.

"Having the Chrysler brand on board again means so much to the Detroit Jazz Festival, and also to the city of Detroit. We're coming together to create meaningful and fun opportunities for Detroit communities year-round, and amazing Labor Day weekend performances for those all over the world," said Gretchen Valade, chair of the Foundation Board of Directors, Detroit Jazz Festival. "Support from companies like the Chrysler brand, who are committed to helping this city, assist the Detroit Jazz Festival in continuing to stay the largest free jazz festival in the world and helps us to continue to offer these unique cultural experiences."

Every year the festival draws thousands to Detroit. Last year jazz greats, such as Sonny Rollins and Wynton Marsalis headlined the festival. This year's lineup will be released in April, but Community Series and education events have already started the Festival's 2013 season.

About the Detroit Jazz Festival
The Detroit Jazz Festival is an independent, non-profit organization that presents jazz and educational workshops throughout the year. Recently voted number two in North America in a JazzTimes reader's poll, the Detroit Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in the world and a major tourist attraction for the City of Detroit, with 25.8 percent of its audience coming from out of state.

The festival receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Erb Family Foundation, Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the SAP REFX Expert LLC and DE FRANCE DE TERSANT Trust, and the Kresge Foundation. Major corporate partners include JP Morgan Chase, Opportunity Detroit, Carhartt and Mack Avenue Records. Additional partners include Absopure, Great Lakes Beverage, MGM Grand Detroit, PNC Foundation, Pepsi Beverages Company, Dirty Dog Jazz Café, Marriott, Charity Motors, Amtech International, Wakefield, Sutherland and Lubera, Art Van Furniture, Bingham Legal Group, Dickinson Wright, Domino's DownBeat, Hour Detroit , JazzTimes, MetroTimes and Fox 2. The Festival's Greening Program, now entering Phase IV, is supported by a generous grant from the DTE Energy Foundation.