| In the news: More than two hundred fifty Volkswagen | | | | Last Tuesday, January 16, forty employees of |
| of American Inc. corporate and field employees will | | | | Volkswagen have rebuilt the music room at the |
| gather in New Orleans beginning Tuesday, January 16 | | | | Lafayette Academy on South Carrollton Ave. Armed |
| through Thursday, January 18 for the companys | | | | with their personal supplies and materials donated by |
| National Field Meeting. Volkswagen employees will also | | | | Home Depot the forty volunteer employees has given |
| help rebuild the citys public school music programs by | | | | the charter elementary/middle schools music room a |
| donating Volkswagen-branded musical instruments | | | | new coat of paint, a number of storage cabinets, and |
| such as guitars. They will also help in renovating a | | | | a music-themed wall mural. Volkswagen for its part will |
| music classroom destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. | | | | donate fifty-six First Act guitars to the Tipitinas |
| According to Matthias Seidl, Chief Operating Officer | | | | Foundation. The thirteen public high schools in the city |
| for the Volkswagen brand, "We chose New Orleans | | | | will be provided with four guitars each. |
| because it has always been a great place for | | | | Representatives and student interns from the Tipitinas |
| business and entertainment. There is a correlation | | | | Foundation are going to accept the guitars on behalf of |
| between the city and our company. We've both made | | | | the schools at an even that will be held on January 16, |
| progress the past year as Volkswagen sales are up | | | | 2007, Thursday at Tipitinas French Quarter. The |
| 4.9 percent, while New Orleans has made vast | | | | highlight of the said event will include a special |
| improvements in rebuilding and re-establishing itself as | | | | performance bythe students together with popular |
| an epicenter of culture and entertainment. The | | | | local artistTheresa Anderson. |
| Volkswagen brand has long been recognized for its | | | | And here is what Bill Taylor, Executive Director of the |
| ties to music and art, and we look forward to bringing | | | | Tiptinas Foundation has to say, "We welcome |
| New Orleans back to its creative roots." Seidl is also | | | | Volkswagen to New Orleans and appreciate their |
| responsible for Volkswagens field organization. | | | | contributions to rebuilding the city's musical foundations. |