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