COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Healthy, robust communities create opportunities that allow us to live more meaningful lives. Sony supports a diverse set of programs and initiatives designed to enhance the quality of life in the communities in which we operate.

For example, since 2009, Sony Corporation of America (SCA) has been the lead sponsor of Carnegie Hall Musical Exchange, a free online community that allows young student musicians to connect with fellow students from around the globe and to develop their talents with professional mentors.  SCA also supports a variety of diverse community-based non-profit organizations and initiatives, including the Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF), whose goal it is to help underserved inner-city youth develop the intellectual curiosity, academic ability, social values, and personal resilience to ensure their success in school, career and life; the Hispanic Federation’s Early Childhood Literacy Education Campaign, which introduces important resources to Latino parents that can be used at home to boost the skills of their children so they are better prepared to succeed in school; Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), which provides free technology training classes for older adults, ranging from simple e-mail instruction and Internet exploration, to digital photography and more; and Materials for the Arts (MFTA), which collects unneeded items from businesses and individuals, making these donations available for free to other non-profit arts organizations, government agencies and all of New York City’s 1800 public schools. 

In addition, SCA, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Sony Electronics (SEL)  have come together to support City Year, an organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service to keep high school students at risk of dropping out on track to graduate.  Specifically, SCA, SPE and SEL sponsor a Sony team of City Year corps members at the John Liechty Middle School in Los Angeles, who work to provide quality education and mentoring, as well as a much-needed system of support for the school’s at-risk students.

At SPE, the desire to preserve the arts and arts education is at the heart of its community programs. The Company has helped to establish and fund unique programs such as the Sony Pictures Media Arts Program with California Institute for the Arts and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. The Studio has also provided broad ongoing support for arts educational programming for the Culver City school district and K-12 sequential arts education in coordination with the Arts for All: Los Angeles County Regional Blueprint for Arts Education initiative.  SPE also annually supports the Imageworks Professional Academic Excellence program (IPAX).  Designed by SPE’s Academy Award-winning visual effects and animation unit, this professional development and student scholarship program is intended to build stronger relationships with established academic programs and to nurture and grow future generations of digital talent. 

Sony Electronics (SEL) is dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where employees work and live.  The company is focused on inspiring and educating youth through the use of technology and focuses its efforts on supporting education in the classroom.  SEL partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support the Imagemakers National Photography Program & Contest.  SEL also provides a number of in-kind donations each year for use by educational non-profits and academic institutions.