Volkswagen Group of America Contributes $5.28 Million to Educational Institutions in Tennessee

'Partners in Education' will support teachers and students across the state; focus on sustainable mobility research and education initiatives

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations, LLC, today announced a five-year, $5.28 million philanthropic commitment designed to serve as a catalyst for educational enrichment in the state ofTennessee. The company's "Partners in Education" program includes funding for Fisk University,Hamilton County Public Schools, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Tennessee State University (TSU), The University of Memphis (U of M), The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga (UTC) and The University of Tennessee - Knoxville (UTK). The program will also leverage and support the Volkswagen Group's relationship with Chattanooga State Community College, the lead institution for workforce training at the company's new plant inChattanooga.

Dr. Horst Neumann, member of the Board of Management Volkswagen AG for Human Resources and Organization; Frank Fischer, CEO and Chairman of Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations; and Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, unveiled the philanthropic initiative.Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, Congressman Zach Wamp and representatives from recipient institutions also were in attendance. The event took place at Calvin Donaldson Elementary School, part of the Hamilton County Public School system, one of the "Partners in Education" fund recipients.

"We are employers, but we are also neighbors. That means pitching in and doing our part to make life better for the entire community," said Dr. Neumann. "Our corporate philosophy demands that it is not enough to merely have an interest in education. We have an obligation to turn interest into action. If we're going to create first-rate minds, we have to create first-rate schools."

"Our $5.28 million, five-year education program is a comprehensive project that will serve as a catalyst for improvement," said Mr. Fischer. "Our program will benefit students from kindergarten through high school; college undergraduates and graduate students; and scholars and researchers at the state's premier research institutions."

"This is a truly joyous occasion. We have already made a significant contribution to education inVirginia, our corporate home. Today we're making a significant commitment to education in our new home," said Mr. Jacoby. "We're not just building a plant. We're building a partnership. We're putting down roots in Chattanooga."

In addition to Neumann, Fischer and Jacoby, Gov. Phil Bredesen also participated in making the official philanthropic announcement.

"Today's announcement of 'Partners in Education' demonstrates the willingness of Volkswagen Group of America to partner with K-12 and higher education inTennessee to help prepare our young people for the highly skilled jobs of the future," said Gov. Bredesen. "We've worked hard to raise academic standards and make education more relevant to the demands of the modern workplace, and this initiative is the type of partnership that is good for business and vital to the future of our state's economy."

Local officials includingChattanooga City Mayor Ron Littlefield andHamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey also helped Volkswagen commemorate the "Partners in Education" program.

"Here inHamilton County, we share Volkswagen's commitment to preparing young people for high-skill, high-wage jobs," saidHamilton County Mayor Ramsey. "Thank you for engaging with us to support our public schools just as you are partnering with our whole community to create thousands of new jobs."

"For decades, Chattanoogans have utilized public-private partnerships to transform our community into one of the best mid-sized cities in the country," saidChattanooga City Mayor Ron Littlefield. "I'm thankful that Volkswagen is joining that great tradition even before they have finished work on their new auto assembly facility."

For more information, please visit www.volkswagengroupamerica.com.

About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world's third largest automaker and the largest carmaker inEurope. It houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the company's headquarters are inHerndon, Va.

Volkswagen Group of America brings to the U.S. vehicles that marry the science of engineering and the art of styling, with the goal of offering attractive, safe, and environmentally sound automobiles that are competitive and set world standards in their respective classes.

The company has approximately 2,500 employees inthe United States and sells its vehicles through an 800-strong dealer network. With increasing popularity for its brands in the U.S., the company has set the goal of reaching one million car sales in the country by 2018.

For more information, please visit www.volkswagengroupamerica.com.

    CONTACT:  Jill Bratina
    (202) 957-0715
    jill.bratina@vw.com

SOURCE Volkswagen Group of America

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