Press Releases
20 March 2009
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
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 of Tennessee. 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 (UofM), 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 in Chattanooga.
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 Governor 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. "We're not just building a plant. We're building a partnership. We're putting down roots in Chattanooga."
"This is a truly joyous occasion. We have already made a significant contribution to education in Virginia, our corporate home. Today we're making a significant commitment to education in our new home," said Mr. Jacoby. "We're making a long-term commitment to this community, this state and this country." 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 in Tennessee to help prepare our young people for the highly skilled jobs of the future," said Tennessee Governor Phil 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."
State and local officials including Congressman Zach Wamp, Chattanooga City Mayor Ron Littlefield and Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey also helped Volkswagen commemorate the "Partners in Education" program.
"East Tennessee is extremely pleased to welcome Volkswagen to our state, not only for the investment and jobs that the company will bring to our region, but to make them part of our community. We appreciate Volkswagen's generosity through the Partners in Education program to enrich educational opportunities for our students, and for the company's willingness to get involved and partner with our academic institutions," said Wamp.
"Here in Hamilton County, we share Volkswagen's commitment to preparing young people for high-skill, high-wage jobs," said Hamilton 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," said Chattanooga 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."
U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker also showed their support.
"I commend the Volkswagen Group of America for recognizing the importance that education plays in raising our quality of life, since better schools mean better jobs," said Alexander, a former U.S. secretary of education. "This generous gift shows the strong commitment that Volkswagen has to Tennessee and our state's future, and I am pleased that Volkswagen is being such a strong corporate citizen. By investing in the lives of our children and workers, Volkswagen has become a leader in Tennessee, and we all appreciate its support."
"When Volkswagen chose Tennessee last summer, we knew part of their decision was about shared values," said Corker. "Today's announcement reinforces our shared commitment to education and shows that Volkswagen won't just be building cars in Tennessee, they will be helping us build bright minds and a stronger state."
Partners in Education Program
Volkswagen Group of America's "Partners in Education" program began with partnerships with Virginia schools, and is designed to create a comprehensive education initiative for academic institutions. With the expansion in Tennessee, the partnership with primary and secondary schools, universities and a leading national laboratory will positively impact students throughout their educational experience and throughout the state.
Chattanooga State
Volkswagen's partnerships with educational institutions began with Chattanooga State Community College, the lead institution for workforce training at the Chattanooga Volkswagen Plant. The training planned for the Volkswagen Training Academy in Chattanooga will consist of standardized global training found in Germany and throughout the Volkswagen Group worldwide; and Chattanooga State will partner with Volkswagen to develop a customized curriculum."We are honored to be a trusted partner with Volkswagen in this crucial responsibility of developing a world class workforce which will insure Volkswagen's success, and the success of our community," commented Chattanooga State President James L. Catanzaro.
Fisk University
At Fisk University, the partnership will support high-achieving students who are engaged in community service by establishing a Volkswagen fellowship in which students combine elements such as environmental studies, service learning projects and global business projects."An education at Fisk emphasizes serving others as well as self-development. This initiative represents a holistic approach to educational enrichment for Tennessee's students. It is fundamentally grounded in our collective interest to develop engaged students with more opportunity across the educational spectrum," said Fisk President Hazel O'Leary. "This gift will benefit exceptional students, many of whom might not otherwise be able to attend Fisk without this investment. Those students will have an impact on their communities for years to come in the areas of environmental studies, service learning projects, and global business. We are grateful to Volkswagen Group of America for its generosity and look forward to a long and productive relationship with our partner schools."
Hamilton County Public Schools
A multi-year, multi-faceted partnership with Hamilton County Public Schools will support a summer teacher training institute, providing teachers with appropriate training to keep pace with the state's new, more rigorous educational standards. Additional funds will help Calvin Donaldson Elementary School renovate a building that is currently unusable into working student labs. Finally, the company will help support preparation for the ACT college exam, helping improve Hamilton County students' performance on standardized college admission exams."We appreciate the support and investment Volkswagen is making in Hamilton County Schools. With this investment they are showing the need for an educated workforce and emphasizing that a quality education is necessary for a prosperous future," said Superintendent Dr. Jim Scales. "These grants will focus on training teachers, helping high school students gain the skills needed to succeed in the workforce and college and enhance our environmental science magnet program. All of these programs are integral to our future success and we thank Volkswagen for their commitment to quality educational programs in Hamilton County."
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory will establish a Volkswagen Scholars Program for upper division and post-graduate students interested in careers in the automotive industry. The program will be run through Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a non-profit organization that works closely with Oak Ridge National Labs in the management of many of its student internship and post-graduate fellowship programs."The Volkswagen Scholars Program at ORNL will give students access to some of the finest scientific facilities, equipment, and staff mentors in the world," said ORNL Director Thom Mason. "It will boost these students' career potential and strengthen the automotive industry workforce. We are very pleased to be one of the leaders in this exciting initiative."
Tennessee State University
At Tennessee State University, funds will provide student scholarships and faculty support in the Colleges of Business and Engineering. The funds will support an Endowed chair for Supply Chain Management, student scholarships and kindergarten – 12th grade pre-engineering math and science programs."Tennessee State University is pleased to partner with Volkswagen Group of America," said President of Tennessee State University Dr. Melvin N. Johnson. "This generous gift will provide funding for scholarships and innovative programs that will help TSU attract talented and motivated students. By partnering with Volkswagen Group of America, TSU will continue its legacy of making success stories possible."
"There is no better way to invest in the state of Tennessee than to provide students with educational opportunities that will not only change their lives but will also change the structure of the communities in which they reside," Dr. Johnson added. "Together, TSU and Volkswagen Group of America will engage in shaping the direction of the next generation of leaders."
University of Memphis
The partnership with the University of Memphis will support an initiative to recruit, retain, and prepare the next generation of specialists in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This program links schools with local businesses and reaches down to the kindergarten level to encourage interest in STEM subject areas."We are very grateful to Volkswagen Group of America for this most generous gift," Dr. Shirley Raines, president of the University of Memphis, said. "As the University of Memphis actively promotes mathematics and the physical science, this gift will enable our distinguished professors and researchers to partner with middle and high school teachers to energize a new generation of students. The significance of this gift to the University and to the state of Tennessee cannot be overstated."
Dr. Ralph Faudree, provost of the University, said, "The University of Memphis has an active group of faculty that have been involved in providing enhancement opportunities for middle school and high school students interested in STEM careers, and in training teachers in these areas. These funds will allow the faculty to significantly expand and enrich the existing programs, to create many new opportunities, and to seek additional local, state, and federal funding for programs to support more students entering STEM careers."
The University of Tennessee – Chattanooga
The partnership with the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga will support the new Volkswagen Competitive Challenge fund, giving financial support to students for team projects, as well as support for faculty research, travel, recruitment and outreach. Funding at UTC will focus particularly on engineering, international studies, and computer and environmental science."Our entire community has been energized by the announcement that Volkswagen is coming to Chattanooga, and we at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are proud to have been involved in the recruitment effort," said Roger Brown, Chancellor of UTC. "In the short time since the announcement, Volkswagen has shown a commitment to being a true corporate neighbor and partner in this community. The establishment of the Volkswagen Competitive Challenge Fund at UTC demonstrates Volkswagen's belief in education, and we are very appreciative for this opportunity for our faculty and students."
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville
At the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, the Volkswagen Engagement Endowment Fund will provide student aid and faculty support in several different areas. These categories include supply chain logistics, mechanical engineering and environmental engineering."We are excited that Volkswagen has made this investment in higher education, and we look forward to engaging with them," said UT-Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. "From supply chain logistics to mechanical and environmental engineering, our strengths complement Volkswagen's needs. This partnership will benefit UT-Knoxville students and faculty, VW employees and customers, and the citizens of our state."
Today's announcement complements Volkswagen Group of America's $2.1 million pilot "Partners in Education" program in Virginia, which is specifically meant to support schools in the home region of the U.S. corporate headquarters. The donations provide financial, educational and other needed resources to Fairfax County Public Schools, Northern Virginia Community College, the D.C.-based Excel Institute, George Mason University, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia.
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 in Europe. 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 in Herndon, 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 in the 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.
Read Frank Fischer's comments at the event >
Read Dr. Horst Neumann's comments at the event >
Read Stefan Jacoby's comments at the event >
