Tom Brady Presents Five Linemen with Audi Q7 SUVs to Kick-off Audi Best Buddies Challenge:...

Tom Brady Presents Five Linemen with Audi Q7 SUVs to Kick-off Audi Best
Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port
- Tom Brady presents Matt Light, Stephan Neal, Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins and
Nick Kaczur with five Audi Q7 SUVs as a thank you for their support of the
non-profit organization Best Buddies International

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and HYANNIS PORT, Mass., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Audi
of America, Inc. today partnered with All-star quarterback Tom Brady to offer
his own version of protection by surprising his offensive linemen with all new
Audi Q7 SUVs. During a press conference near Boston's John F. Kennedy Library
and Museum, Brady presented the men most responsible for his safety on the
field, with one of the safest SUVs on the market, the new Audi Q7. Linemen
Matt Light, Stephan Neal, Dan Koppen, Logan Mankins and Nick Kaczur will be
given new Audi Q7 SUVs to protect them on the road and to thank them for their
support of Best Buddies International and dedication during the 2007/2008
football season.
Brady will join Audi and Best Buddies International on Saturday, May 17 as
the Honorary Chairman and Celebrity Ambassador of the Audi Best Buddies
Challenge: Hyannis Port, a charity bike ride to raise money for individuals
with intellectual disabilities. Brady has been involved with Best Buddies
since 2003 and has participated in the Best Buddies Friendship Races, a
short-course, tandem race that partners a celebrity and a Best Buddy.
As host and title sponsor, Audi of America will welcome Brady and other
celebrities including Olympic Gold-Medalist Carl Lewis, actor Greg Germann
("Ally McBeal"), actress Maureen McCormick ("The Brady Bunch"), Lt. Andy
Baldwin ("The Bachelor"), Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Since Audi and Best
Buddies teamed up in 2007, Best Buddies has raised over $8 million. Brady's
current personal car, an Audi S8, is set to be auctioned for charity at the
Best Buddies Ball later this year.
"I'm honored to join Audi and Best Buddies to raise money for such a
tremendous cause, and to also have my own best buddies, my offensive linemen,
join me to support this amazing organization," said Tom Brady. "There's no
better way to thank them for attending the Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis
Port and for keeping me safe all year, than by giving them the safety,
performance and luxury of the Audi Q7 SUV. I want to make sure they're
protected all year long."
The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port is an annual charity bicycle
tour that takes riders on a picturesque route from Boston, Massachusetts to
Hyannis Port. Brady and the Patriots' linemen will participate in the Best
Buddies Friendship Races at Craigville Beach. Last year's event raised over
$2.5 million, and this year's event is expected to break that record.
"Audi is privileged and honored to be the title sponsor of the Audi Best
Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port," said Jeff Kuhlman, Chief Communications
Officer, Audi of America. "This extraordinary event joins the rich
philanthropic history of the Kennedy family in New England with Audi's own
long history of corporate social responsibility. Since partnering with Best
Buddies in 2007, Audi has helped the charity raise money funding to continue
its great work, and we hope that the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port
will be another record-setting event."
Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a nonprofit
that provides opportunities for one-to-one friendship and integrated
employment to people with intellectual disabilities in more than 1,400
chapters in 35 countries. In June 2007, Audi and Best Buddies proudly
announced their new partnership. For the next four years, Audi will be the
exclusive automotive sponsor of Best Buddies within the Americas and support
numerous projects and fundraising events in Europe and overseas. In 2008, Audi
has made it a mission to engage its whole organization in Best Buddies' cause,
including on the dealer level, where Audi hopes to install a job program to
place people with intellectual disabilities on career paths to further their
personal growth.
"Best Buddies is thrilled to welcome Audi as our title sponsor for this
event," said Anthony Kennedy Shriver, founder and chairman of Best Buddies
International. "Since Audi joined us in 2007, its tireless commitment to
social responsibility has helped us grow our organization in ways we'd never
imagined. With its incredible fleet of luxury automobiles and celebrity
ambassadors, Audi elevates every event we do to new levels. We're looking
forward to making the Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port the best it's
ever been."
Participating riders will depart from the John F. Kennedy Presidential
Library in Boston and ride 100 miles to Craigville Beach. Riders choosing not
to participate in the 100-mile ride will have the opportunity to ride 20 miles
from Sandwich, Massachusetts to Craigville Beach, where they will enjoy hot
showers and massages. Following that, riders will relax with a
New England-style clambake and a concert by the B-52s.
About Audi of America, Inc.
As of June 2007, Audi is the exclusive automobile sponsor of Best Buddies
International in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Switzerland,
Austria and Germany. Audi is the title sponsor for all cycling/ride events
benefiting Best Buddies, and will provide all official vehicles for Best
Buddies fundraising and special events in these markets.
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.
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 35 countries. Our
six formal programs - Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges,
Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs - positively impact more than 350,000
individuals. For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org,
www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/, or contact Heather Schatz, Communications
Director, heatherschatz@bestbuddies.org.
SOURCE Audi of America, Inc.

Anja Kaehny of Audi of America, +1-305-790-9166, anja.kaehny@audi.com; or
Kevin Ray of BNC, for Audi, +1-512-656-2334, kray@bncpr.com