Sony, the PlayStation manufacturer, has contributed $5 million to aid first responders, community recovery, and support programs for those impacted by the devastating wildfires currently engulfing Southern California.
In a joint statement shared on X/Twitter, Kenichiro Yoshida, Sony's chairman and CEO, and Hiroki Totoki, president and COO, emphasized Los Angeles's significance as the home of Sony's entertainment operations for over three and a half decades. They pledged continued collaboration with local leaders to identify the most effective ways Sony Group can contribute to relief and recovery efforts in the coming days.
The crisis, which began on January 7th, shows no signs of abating, with three major wildfires continuing to cause widespread destruction across the greater Los Angeles area a week later. The BBC reports a tragic toll of 24 fatalities and 23 missing persons in the two largest affected areas, with firefighters preparing for challenging conditions as strong winds are forecast to return.
Sony's generous donation is part of a larger corporate response to the crisis. CNBC reports that other companies have also made significant contributions, including Disney ($15 million), Netflix and Comcast ($10 million each), the NFL ($5 million), Walmart ($2.5 million), and Fox ($1 million), among others.
