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Sony establishes $100-M COVID-19 global relief fund

Japanese firm Sony Corp. (Sony) has established the $100-million “Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19” to aid those who are affected by COVID-19 around the world

The fund is earmarked as 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, which has been greatly impacted by the spread of the virus.

“Sony extends its condolences to the families of those who have passed away as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, and extends its sympathies to all those who have been impacted,” said Kenichiro Yoshida, president and CEO, Sony Corp., in a media release. “In order 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.”

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Sony commits $10 million to “COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund” for the World Health Organization (WHO) powered by the UN Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, as well as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist medical workers and others on the frontline of response efforts to the virus.

Education

The company is also exploring technological solutions to ensure that education is not disrupted in areas with prolonged lockdowns.

As Sony is also an entertainment company, the company promised to support artists, creators, and entertainment professionals who lost work and income during the pandemic. Lockdowns prohibit any type of mass gathering as a measure to curb the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Sony also announced that 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.

Going forward, Sony will work together with its partners and stakeholders to explore ways to further extend these initiatives.