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 35 years. They pledged continued collaboration with local leaders to optimize Sony Group's support for relief and rebuilding efforts.
The crisis, which began on January 7th, persists, with three major wildfires continuing to cause widespread damage across the greater Los Angeles area a week later. According to BBC reports, the fires have claimed 24 lives, with 23 individuals still unaccounted for in the two largest affected zones. Firefighters are preparing for challenging conditions as stronger winds are forecast.
Sony's generous donation joins contributions from numerous other corporations. CNBC reports that Disney donated $15 million, Netflix and Comcast each pledged $10 million, the NFL contributed $5 million, Walmart gave $2.5 million, and Fox donated $1 million, among other corporate contributions.
