Volkswagen AG Announces $1 Million Donation to the Anti-Defamation League

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen AG today announced that it has donated $1 million to The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to support comprehensive diversity education programs.  

The partnership contributes to Volkswagen AG's global efforts to promote education and help improve the lives of the people within the countries and communities where they operate.  The donation to the ADL, a leader in anti-bias education, will help fund workshops for early-childhood educators, diversity training in schools and communities, programs aimed at addressing cyber-bullying, anti-bigotry efforts on college campuses as well as workshops that help companies develop more inclusive and respectful working conditions for employees. Volkswagen's partnership with ADL is one significant aspect of the company's global philanthropic efforts and another example of the company's commitment to education in the United States.

"Volkswagen AG is proud to support the Anti-Defamation League, which strives to celebrate diversity and inclusion," said Christian Klingler, Board Member of Volkswagen AG, responsible for sales, marketing and after sales. "ADL's initiatives and programs align with Volkswagen AG's commitment to diversity in our workforce and in countries all around the globe. At Volkswagen, economic success goes hand-in-hand with ecological and social goals. That is why the Group takes on responsibility for customers, employees, the environment and the community."

"We are extremely gratified to have Volkswagen's generous support as a partner in the fight against anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "This great corporation has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping build better communities and improving society through their support of anti-bias education, diversity initiatives and multiculturalism. We salute Volkswagen for setting such a high bar for other corporations to emulate."

In addition, Volkswagen Group of America initiated its own Partners in Education program. Launched in September 2008, Partners in Education is designed to support students and teachers interested in advanced automotive technology and next-generation automotive engineering. The programs help students from kindergarten through high school, and even at the college and post-graduate level throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C., area and in Tennessee, home of our new assembly plant.

About Volkswagen AG

The Volkswagen Group, with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, is one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. In 2010, the Group increased the number of vehicles delivered to customers to 7.203 million (2009: 6.336 million), corresponding to a 11.4 percent share of the world passenger car market. In Western Europe just over one in five new cars (21.0 percent) comes from the Volkswagen Group. Group sales came in 2010 to 126,9 billion euros (2009: 105.2 billion). Profit after tax in the 2010 financial year amounted to 7.2 billion euros (2009: 0.9 billion). The Group is made up of nine brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Scania. For more information, please visit www.volkswagenag.com.

About the Anti-Defamation League

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

SOURCE Volkswagen AG