Sony has donated $5 million to aid first responders, community recovery, and support programs for those affected by the devastating wildfires raging across Southern California. Kenichiro Yoshida, Sony chairman and CEO, and Hiroki Totoki, president and COO, jointly stated on X/Twitter, "Los Angeles has been the home of our entertainment business for more than 35 years. We will continue to work with local business leadership to determine how best Sony Group can support relief and recovery efforts in the days ahead."
The crisis, which began January 7th, continues to cause widespread destruction across the greater Los Angeles area, with three wildfires still actively spreading. According to BBC reports, the fires have tragically claimed 24 lives, with 23 individuals still missing. Firefighters are preparing for challenging conditions as stronger winds are forecast.
Sony's contribution is part of a larger corporate response to the disaster. Other companies, including Disney ($15 million), Netflix and Comcast ($10 million each), the NFL ($5 million), Walmart ($2.5 million), and Fox ($1 million), have also made significant donations to wildfire relief efforts, as reported by CNBC.