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