SONY SETS UP $100M COVID-19 FUND

Sony Corp. has established the $100m Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19 to support those around the world affected by the Coronavirus. The music division and other units will be able to direct donations to specific areas of need.

“In the past week, the level of collaboration between the Music Group and Sony Corp. to develop this initiative has been inspiring teamwork-wise, but I want to assure you that these steps are just the beginning of our response efforts,” Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer writes in a memo going out to staff today.

Through this fund, Sony will provide support in three areas: assistance for those individuals engaged in frontline medical and first responder efforts to fight the virus, support for children and educators who must now work remotely, and support for members of the creative community in the entertainment industry.

In terms of the creative community such as music, pictures, games and animation, together with its group companies engaged in the entertainment industry, Sony will seek ways to support up-and-coming creators, artists and all those in professions supporting the industry, who have been impacted by the cancellation or postponement of concerts and live events, or the shutting down of film and television productions.

The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO powered by the UN Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation will receive the first $10m along with Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Sony is also exploring ways to leverage its technologies in support of education activities, and cooperate with educators to implement these measures.

Sony employees will be able to provide their support through a matching gift program that is scheduled to be offered to its approximately 110,000 employees worldwide.

“To overcome the unprecedented challenges that as a society we now face around the world, we will do all we can as a global company to support the individuals on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19, the children who are our future, and those who have been impacted in the creative community,” Sony Corp. President and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said.