Sony Corporation of America

Corporate Philanthropy
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Volunteerism

Public service activities and volunteerism are vital parts of our corporate culture. We facilitate the process that enables our employees to give back to the communities in which they live. In fact, volunteerism is such an ingrained part of the culture at Sony in America companies, that each employee is given the option of taking two paid days a year to perform voluntary service to the community or a non-profit cause.

Perhaps no other initiative embraces the concept of volunteerism than S.O.N.Y. (Some One Needs You) Day, which is Sony's signature volunteer program. Each year, several thousand employees from Sony in America companies participate in S.O.N.Y. Day and they are among the more than 24,000 Sony employees around the world who take part in the global initiative. U.S.-based organizations that have benefited from S.O.N.Y. Day include:

  • The Bronx Zoo in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Society, where employees cleared debris from the Wild Asia exhibit in preparation for its spring opening.
  • P.S. 506, The Magnet School of Global Communication through Journalism and Technology in Brooklyn, New York, where Sony volunteers painted library murals, organized books, and created mosaics for the school's entrance.
  • VanCortlandt Park in the Bronx, where students planted greenery and painted fences.
  • P.S. 83 in East Harlem, New York, where Sony volunteers painted murals, stained bookcases and organized the school library.
  • The Jacob A. Riis Settlement House in Long Island City, where Sony volunteers painted, planted gardens, and organized supplies throughout the facility.
  • The Specialized Adolescent Center in Miami where Sony volunteers served lunch to children and staff, and also donated consumer electronics equipment, clothing and makeup.
  • The Westmoreland County Food Bank in Pittsburgh where Sony volunteers sorted and repackaged thousands of pounds of food.
  • The Star Six Foundations in Cypress, California, where Sony volunteers helped clean two facilities that house abused children.
  • The Culver City Middle School where employees planted trees, painted murals and created a butterfly garden for the sixth grade science program.

Sony Electronics Inc. encourages its employees to provide leadership to non-profit organizations in need. These activities include youth mentoring, Board of Director memberships and project coordination. The organizations that have benefited from the work of Sony Electronics Inc. volunteers include the Affinity Group for Japanese Philanthropy, the Greater Montvale Business Association, the Business Policy Review Council, the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey, the National Urban Affairs Council, the New Jersey Corporate Contributions Group, the Northern New Jersey Boy Scouts Council, the Ramapo College Foundation, the Joint Center for Political & Economic Studies, the Partnership in Philanthropy, the Albert G. Oliver Foundation, Shelter Our Sisters, the Academic Decathlon of New Jersey and the Henry H. Kessler Foundation.

One of the most popular volunteer programs among Sony Electronics Inc. employees is Habitat for Humanity, which provides and builds low-cost housing for needy families. The organization also receives assistance from Sony Electronics Inc. volunteers. Sony Electronics Inc. volunteers also provide extensive support for America's Promise - the Alliance for Youth. Through the program, volunteers have contributed thousands of hours to help America's youth through a variety of programs. Hundreds of Sony volunteers have helped many communities throughout the country including Cypress, California; Culver City, California; Dothan, Alabama; Fort Myers, Florida; Irving, Texas; Itasca, Illinois; Norcross, Georgia; New York, New York; northern New Jersey; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; and Westmoreland, Pennsylvania.

At Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., the spirit of volunteerism is captured in the LINKS program, which is the company's effort dedicated to empowering and recognizing employee volunteerism. The goal of LINKS is to link Sony Pictures to the community and to its employees, and link Sony Pictures employees to each other. Run by a steering committee of 12 employees, LINKS events have reached all parts of the Los Angeles community.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. volunteers have assisted the Special Olympics of Southern California, Heal the Bay, Habitat for Humanity, Midnight Mission, TreePeople, Dress for Success, St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, the Downtown Women’s Center, the Mar Vista Family Center, Exceptional Children’s Foundation, L.A. Works Day and Culver City Friends of the Library. The organization participates yearly in the Revlon Run Walk for Women and AIDS Walk Los Angeles.

Sony Corporation of America sponsors the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Workplace Mentoring Program, through which 15 high school juniors from the Urban Assembly School of Music and Art in Brooklyn are matched with 15 New York-based employee volunteers from SCA, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment for a 13-week educational program developed by the Programs Department at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab.

The program is designed to build strong bonds between the “Bigs” and “Littles” through mentoring, while enabling the “Littles” to learn about work etiquette and the various careers available in the music, technology and entertainment industries.