Tom Brady Presents Five Linemen with Audi Q7 SUVs to Kick-off Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port

- Tom Brady presents Matt Light, Stephan Neal, Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins and Nick Kaczur with five Audi Q7 SUVs as a thank you for their support of the non-profit organization Best Buddies International - Brady will serve as Honorary Chairman of the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port for next three years - Ninth Annual Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port charity bike tour of Boston and the Cape

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and HYANNIS PORT, Mass., May 17 -- Audi of America, Inc. today partnered with All-star quarterback Tom Brady to offer his own version of protection by surprising his offensive linemen with all new Audi Q7 SUVs. During a press conference near Boston's John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Brady presented the men most responsible for his safety on the field, with one of the safest SUVs on the market, the new Audi Q7. Linemen Matt Light, Stephan Neal, Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins and Nick Kaczur will be given new Audi Q7 SUVs to protect them on the road and to thank them for their support of Best Buddies International and dedication during the 2007/2008 football season.

Brady will join Audi and Best Buddies International on Saturday, May 17 as the Honorary Chairman and Celebrity Ambassador of the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port, a charity bike ride to raise money for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Brady has been involved with Best Buddies since 2003 and has participated in the Best Buddies Friendship Races, a short-course, tandem race that partners a celebrity and a Best Buddy.

As host and title sponsor, Audi of America will welcome Brady and other celebrities including Olympic Gold-Medalist Carl Lewis, actor Greg Germann ("Ally McBeal"), actress Maureen McCormick ("The Brady Bunch"), Lt. Andy Baldwin ("The Bachelor"), Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Since Audi and Best Buddies teamed up in 2007, Best Buddies has raised over $8 million. Brady's current personal car, an Audi S8, is set to be auctioned for charity at the Best Buddies Ball later this year.

"I'm honored to join Audi and Best Buddies to raise money for such a tremendous cause, and to also have my own best buddies, my offensive linemen, join me to support this amazing organization," said Tom Brady. "There's no better way to thank them for attending the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port and for keeping me safe all year, than by giving them the safety, performance and luxury of the Audi Q7 SUV. I want to make sure they're protected all year long."

The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port is an annual charity bicycle tour that takes riders on a picturesque route from Boston, Massachusetts to Hyannis Port. Brady and the Patriots' linemen will participate in the Best Buddies Friendship Races at Craigville Beach. Last year's event raised over $2.5 million, and this year's event is expected to break that record.

"Audi is privileged and honored to be the title sponsor of the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port," said Jeff Kuhlman, Chief Communications Officer, Audi of America. "This extraordinary event joins the rich philanthropic history of the Kennedy family in New England with Audi's own long history of corporate social responsibility. Since partnering with Best Buddies in 2007, Audi has helped the charity raise money funding to continue its great work, and we hope that the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port will be another record-setting event."

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a nonprofit that provides opportunities for one-to-one friendship and integrated employment to people with intellectual disabilities in more than 1,400 chapters in 35 countries. In June 2007, Audi and Best Buddies proudly announced their new partnership. For the next four years, Audi will be the exclusive automotive sponsor of Best Buddies within the Americas and support numerous projects and fundraising events in Europe and overseas. In 2008, Audi has made it a mission to engage its whole organization in Best Buddies' cause, including on the dealer level, where Audi hopes to install a job program to place people with intellectual disabilities on career paths to further their personal growth.

"Best Buddies is thrilled to welcome Audi as our title sponsor for this event," said Anthony Kennedy Shriver, founder and chairman of Best Buddies International. "Since Audi joined us in 2007, its tireless commitment to social responsibility has helped us grow our organization in ways we'd never imagined. With its incredible fleet of luxury automobiles and celebrity ambassadors, Audi elevates every event we do to new levels. We're looking forward to making the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port the best it's ever been."

Participating riders will depart from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston and ride 100 miles to Craigville Beach. Riders choosing not to participate in the 100-mile ride will have the opportunity to ride 20 miles from Sandwich, Massachusetts to Craigville Beach, where they will enjoy hot showers and massages. Following that, riders will relax with a New England-style clambake and a concert by the B-52s.

About Audi of America, Inc.

As of June 2007, Audi is the exclusive automobile sponsor of Best Buddies International in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Audi is the title sponsor for all cycling/ride events benefiting Best Buddies, and will provide all official vehicles for Best Buddies fundraising and special events in these markets.

Audi of America, Inc. offers a line of luxury vehicles that include the Audi A3 sport compact; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models, the high-revving RS 4 sport sedan and Cabriolet; the all new A5 Coupe with FSI direct injection technology; the S5 Coupe with 354 hp; the design-leading A6 sedan and Avant; the V-10 powered high performance S6 sedan; the Audi Q7 performance SUV; the new all-aluminum Audi A8 and A8L; the new S8 with V10 power; the all-new 2008 TT Coupe and Roadster models; and the all-new, all-aluminum R8, one of the most exclusive mid-engine sports cars in the world.

About Best Buddies International

Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization with more than 1,400 chapters in 35 countries. Our six formal programs - Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs - positively impact more than 350,000 individuals. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/, or contact Heather Schatz, Communications Director, heatherschatz@bestbuddies.org.

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