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.