- Philanthropic Audi Foundation launched in Australia this month
- Audi Foundation's purpose is to 'help strengthen the communities in which we operate'
- Based on new research, the Audi Foundation will use a new model of philanthropy.
Sydney, Australia, 11 June, 2017 - Audi Australia Pty Ltd is pleased to announce the official launch of its brand new philanthropic venture, the Audi Foundation.
The launch of the Audi Foundation marks a major milestone for the German premium carmaker, which has been operating in Australia since 2004 as a 100% wholly-owned National Sales Company of Ingolstadt-based parent, AUDI AG.
The Audi Foundation's purpose is to 'help strengthen the communities in which we operate' and has committed to funding a selection of registered charities through its grant program which raises money via its joint members, Audi Australia Pty Ltd and the national Audi Dealer Network.
As the first major fundraising initiative, an all-new Audi R8 V10 plus is being offered as a raffle prize to mark the official launch of the Audi Foundation. Details can be found at www.audifoundation.com.au/raffle.
''We have been long considering what Audi's contribution to community should be and the Audi Foundation is the result,'' said Thomas Keenan, Head of the Audi Foundation.
''Since 2004, the communities in which we operate have supported the growth of our business, helping us to get to where we are today, and we are now in the position to repay that support through philanthropy.''
The Audi Foundation and Flinders University are currently undertaking research on the effectiveness of current philanthropic funding models in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector. The research is proving that small, short-term funding models, as preferred by the majority of funders, is having a significant negative impact on the effectiveness of the NFP sector.
As a result, the Audi Foundation will provide significant, long-term support to registered charities with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, and which have a proven track record of success. The Foundation's areas of focus include the strengthening of rural and regional communities, assisting women in securing employment in non-traditional environments and assisting young people in achieving their potential through improved health and education outcomes.
"We are also committed to using the most effective philanthropic modelling to inform our decisions about how we use our grant monies. Effective and efficient grants will help many more vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians," said Mr Keenan.
At launch, the Audi Foundation will support programs run by the Country Education Foundation Australia (CEFA), The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), ReachOut.com and The Smith Family.
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The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in 12 countries. 100 percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2016, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.868 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 3,457 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 55,451 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2016 fiscal year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €59.3 billion and an operating profit of €3.1 billion. At present, approximately 88,000 people work for the company all over the world, more than 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on sustainable products and technologies for the future of mobility.