-- Audi supports people with intellectual disabilities through title
sponsorship
-- Honorary Chairperson Maria Shriver to ride alongside Clint Eastwood, Rob
Lowe, and David Spade
-- Team Audi will join 100 mile ride for first time
HERNDON, Va., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Audi, in conjunction with Best
Buddies International, today announced the anticipated celebrity attendees
at this year's Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle on September 6.
Audi is honored to join forces with Best Buddies for the second year in a
row as the Title Sponsor and Official Vehicle of this annual charity
bicycle tour. Last year's ride raised $3 million for Best Buddies, making
it the most successful fundraising initiative in both Best Buddies and
Audi's history.
Audi of America's Western Region director Michael Cagle, and other
senior executives will welcome celebrity guests and riders, including Maria
Shriver, Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, legendary actor and director
Clint Eastwood, Rob Lowe from Brothers and Sisters, Saturday Night Live's
David Spade, Musician Kenny G, David Hasselhoff from Knight Rider and
Baywatch, Joey Lawrence from Dancing with the Stars, Kelly Hu from The
Scorpion King, and MAXIM model Donna Feldman, among others. The 'Friendship
Fleet' formed by Audi customers and their vehicles will lead the peloton
through a challenging 100 mile ride along the Pacific Coast Highway. For
the first time, 'Team Audi' composed of employees, dealers and agencies has
raised additional funds to the corporate contributions and will join the
100 mile ride.
The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle is a bicycle tour taking
riders from Chateau Julien in Carmel to the Hearst Ranch in San Simeon.
California's First Lady, Maria Shriver, will serve as Honorary Chairperson
for the fifth year in a row and will also ride in the event. Notable
cyclists such as Bobby Julich, Axel Merckx, Aaron Olsen, Kimberly Baldwin
and Kim Anderson will join Audi and Best Buddies, as well. Olympic medalist
and former world champion Mari Holden will return to the Audi Best Buddies
Challenge for the fourth straight year.
"Audi's sponsorship of this event means that every dollar raised by
riders directly benefits Best Buddies," said Johan de Nysschen, Executive
Vice President, Audi of America. "Since the inception of our relationship
just over a year ago, we are so proud to have helped Best Buddies raise
more than $9 million in funds to benefit those with intellectual
disabilities. Audi's commitment to social responsibility is continually
renewed by our relationship with this revolutionary charity, and we're
excited to be even more active in this event with our own Audi team
cycling."
Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a nonprofit that
provides opportunities for one-to-one friendship and integrated employment
to people with intellectual disabilities, with participants in 40 countries
around the world. Audi and Best Buddies proudly announced their new
partnership in June of 2007. For the next four years, Audi will continue to
be the exclusive automotive sponsor of Best Buddies within the Americas and
support numerous projects and fundraising events in Europe and overseas.
"Best Buddies is incredibly grateful for Audi's support, which has
grown and enhanced our mission of friendship and inclusion," said Anthony
Kennedy Shriver. "Audi shares our goals and our desire to turn visions into
realities. With Audi's incredible vehicles leading the way for the
dedicated cyclists, this year's challenge is sure to be a major success."
Riders depart Chateau Julian at 6:30 am on September 6th. An exclusive
post-ride celebration held at the Hearst Castle Ranch will feature a
barbeque cookout and private concert by the Black Eyed Peas for all ride
participants and special guests.
About Audi of America, Inc.
Audi of America, Inc. offers a line of luxury vehicles that include the
Audi A3 sport compact; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the
high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models, the high-revving RS
4 sport sedan and Cabriolet; the all new A5 Coupe with FSI direct injection
technology; the S5 Coupe with 354 hp; the design-leading A6 sedan and
Avant; the V-10 powered high performance S6 sedan; the Audi Q7 performance
SUV; the new all-aluminum Audi A8 and A8L; the new S8 with V10 power; the
all-new 2008 TT Coupe and Roadster models; and the all-new, all-aluminum
R8, one of the most exclusive mid-engine sports cars in the world. Upcoming
Audi vehicle launches in the USA include the updated A3 with quattro
all-wheel drive (Sept. 2008), all-new A4 sedan/Avant (Sept. 2008), TTS
coupe and Roadster (end 2008), new A6 with the new 300 hp 3.0 TFSI
supercharged V6 engine (Jan 2009), Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (Q1 2009), and Audi Q5
(Q1 2009). For more information, please visit http://www.audiusa.com or
http://www.audiusanews.com .
About Best Buddies International
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant,
international organization with more than 1,400 chapters in 40 countries.
Our six formal programs -- Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools,
Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs -- positively impact more than
350,000 individuals annually. Learn more at http://www.bestbuddies.org or
bestbuddieschallenge.org .
SOURCE Audi of America
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Related links:
http://www.audiusa.com
http://www.audiusanews.com http://www.bestbuddies.org
http://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/111330.html /
CONTACT:
Anja Kaehny of Audi of America,
+1-305-790-9166, anja.kaehny@audi.com; or Julie Smith of BNC, for
Audi, +1-310-854-4839, jsmith@bncpr.com
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