Volkswagen Throws Block Party in Miami to Benefit South Florida Charities as Presenting Sponsor of the 10th Annual Zo's Summer Groove
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 11 -- On Sunday, July 16, 2006 Volkswagen will present the ZSG Block Party in conjunction with NBA All-Star and 2006 World Champion Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and the 10th Annual Tyson Foods Zo's Summer Groove (ZSG). VW is the Official Vehicle of the event and will provide cars and drivers to transport invited guests, celebrities and athletes, along with the event host Alonzo Mourning.
To get the people of Miami ready for the celebrity All-Star Basketball Game that evening, Volkswagen and Zo's Summer Groove will host one of the biggest block parties of the summer! The Volkswagen ZSG Block Party will be held from 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd) and is free to all that attend. Volkswagen's party theme will be carnival meets Mardi Gras featuring stilt walkers, steel drummers, jugglers, a magician, tattoo and caricature artists, cotton candy, snow cones and a dunk tank. Miami DJ's and radio personalities from WEDR-FM will also be onsite throughout the day. In addition to trivia contests and raffles for seat upgrades at the game, there will be an autograph session with Alonzo in the VW tent.
"Volkswagen is proud to partner with Alonzo Mourning Charities and to be part of the South Florida tradition that is Zo's Summer Groove. We are excited to support such a strong community organization and help improve the lives of at-risk youth," says Kenyatta Bynoe, Brand Marketing Manager for Volkswagen of America.
Prior to Sunday's block party, Volkswagen will be conducting a consumer promotion that will include radio advertising, as well as promotional components including prize giveaways, street teams, vehicle wraps and displays supporting the Ride & Drive Program. The Rabbit, GTI, Jetta, Passat and Touareg vehicles will be available for consumers to test drive on both Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm. Participating in a test drive and completing a survey affords the driver a complimentary ticket to an official ZSG event.
Additional Volkswagen highlights of the week include:
Volkswagen Important People (VWIP) Shuttle Bus Service: ZSG attendees and guests will enjoy complimentary ground transportation, courtesy of Volkswagen, in a 24-passenger shuttle bus. The bus will travel between the event's host hotel and scheduled activities throughout the weekend.
The Honey Shine Mentoring Program: A program of Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc. which is geared to mentoring young women. Volkswagen will provide a special VW Beetle with artwork that embodies the program's "lady bug" logo as a way to increase awareness of the program.
About Alonzo Mourning, Alonzo Mourning Charities and ZSG
Alonzo Mourning is best known as an NBA superstar, but it's his off-the-court charitable efforts that he considers his crowning achievement. When he founded Alonzo Mourning Charities in 1997, his mission was to improve the lives of underprivileged kids in various communities. Since then, the foundation has raised over $5 million for various organizations that aid in the development of at-risk children and their families.
The majority of funds are raised through Tyson Foods Zo's Summer Groove (ZSG), a five-day charity event that has become a staple in the South Florida community. ZSG is a weekend filled with exciting events, all to benefit underprivileged children in South Florida.
Another program operating under AMC includes the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, founded by visionary Tracy Mourning. Honey Shine's mission is to provide mentoring experiences that nurture the mind, body and soul, of young women in at-risk situations, between the ages of 8 to 18. For more information about Alonzo Mourning Charities, please visit www.amcharities.org
About Volkswagen
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 of America and its affiliates employ approximately 3,000 people in the United States and are responsible for the sale and service of Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen products through retail networks comprising in total more than 900 independent US dealers.