Tokyo, Japan – In 2020 Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”) established two funds, the “Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19” and the “Global Social Justice Fund,” each with 100 million U.S. dollars. Since its establishment, Sony Group has provided various support to numerous organizations and communities through partnerships with external organizations and the utilization of Sony’s businesses and technologies.
Although many countries and regions have recovered from the state of pandemic by the COVID-19, there are various social issues that have become more serious or more apparent as a result of the virus.
In order to address those social issues, Sony has entered into partnerships with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Save the Children, and pledged a total of approximately 15 million U.S. dollars in total. This amount is equivalent to the remaining amount of the “Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19“, and these partnerships are also intended to make effective use of this fund.
In addition, over the past three years, the “Global Social Justice Fund” has provided global support to anti-racist initiatives and educational opportunities around the world that foster equal rights. The fund aligns with community partners and stakeholders to help advance bipartisan solutions in the areas of “civic and community engagement,” “criminal justice reform,” “education” and “diversity through impact.” Medium- to long-term efforts are necessary across the areas targeted by this fund, and Sony plans to continue its activities with additional support funds in the future. Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19
~Partnership with international organizations totaling 15 million U.S. dollars~
Established in April 2020, this fund has been used to donate to external organizations, and has developed activities utilizing Sony’s businesses, technologies and content to support those affected by COVID-19 in the areas of “medical,” “education” and the “creative community.” The Sony Group has invested in more than 5,600 organizations globally, and as of today, approximately 80% of the total 100 million U.S. dollars has been allocated. The fund has been utilized for supporting individuals engaged in the frontline of medical treatment for COVID-19, manufacturing and donating 40,000 sets of medical face shields, providing educational opportunities for more than 12,000 children, and supporting over 2,500 creators and artists.
In addition, Sony has signed a partnership with UNICEF, UNHCR, and Save the Children for approximately 15 million U.S. dollars, equivalent to the remaining balance of the fund, and will provide the following support over the next three years. Through these partnerships, Sony will support efforts to address social issues that have become more serious or apparent and are still ongoing since the outbreak of COVID-19.
– Support to UNICEF of approximately 6 million U.S. dollars in total:
To implement initiatives to support education and vocational training, and improve mental health for children and young people around the world, through the development of an environment where everyone can enjoy digital education equally, the promotion and strengthening of prevention and care through advocacy activities to support mental health, and the integration and expansion of support systems in fields such as health and education.
– Support to UNHCR of approximately 6 million U.S. dollars in total:
To support forcibly displaced persons and their host communities in Bangladesh and in the southern Africa region to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including through the delivery of assistance in the fields of health, and water, sanitation and hygiene and the empowerment of communities for future infectious disease control and prevention.
– Support to Save the Children of approximately 3 million U.S. dollars in total:
To provide cash assistance for children in Japan who are from households with economic and living difficulties, as well as support activities such as protecting and improving resilience of children and youth in Bangladesh and Mozambique.
Although the “Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19” will be completed with this partnership, Sony will continue to work with various partners to address global social issues.
*For details on the Sony Global Relief Fund for COVID-19, please see the website below.
Global Social Justice Fund
~Support for the medium and long term in the future~
Established in June 2020, the Fund supports organizations working to support anti-racist initiatives and educational opportunities around the world through direct investments toward distinct yet intersecting pillars of work including “civic and community engagement,” “criminal justice reform,” “education” and “diversity through impact.”
To date, Sony Group has invested in more than 500 organizations across 9 regions and more than 70 countries, and as of today, approximately 95% of the total 100 million U.S. dollars have been allocated. The Fund supports community partners that are leading actions on a variety of issues, including expanding direct access to mental health services for youth of color using technological innovations, challenging traditional power dynamics and re-imagining ways to reform our criminal justice system, and expanding representation in creative industries where Sony has a presence. The Global Social Justice Fund empowers its recipients to use their voices to create a sustainable impact through responsive philanthropy.
As medium- to long-term efforts are required in the fields targeted by this fund, the Sony Group will continue our activities with additional support funds in the future.
*For details of the Global Social Justice Fund, please see the website and report below.
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