Sony Corporation of America Named Corporate Citizen of the Year

WASHINGTON – The Global Business Alliance (GBA) announced Sony Corporation of America as its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award winner last night.

“International companies not only employ nearly eight million Americans in high-quality jobs, they also heavily contribute to strengthening our local communities,” said Nancy McLernon, president and CEO of GBA. “This year, we are proud to spotlight Sony for the extraordinary commitment to advancing social justice in communities across America.”

In response to the widespread calls for social justice, Sony established a $100 million Global Social Justice Fund. Through this fund, Sony supports initiatives that promote social justice and anti-racist initiatives that foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the U.S. The Global Social Justice Fund underscores the company's ongoing commitment to respecting human rights and striving for social justice. 

“We are honored to be recognized for our work in social responsibility by the Global Business Alliance. At SCA, our efforts with the Global Social Justice Fund reflect the Sony Group’s commitment to respecting human rights and fostering diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Mark Khalil, President of Sony Corporation of America. “I am proud that as a company, Sony saw and understood the need to further these efforts by building meaningful, sustainable and impactful partnerships to help combat hate and racism, and create a more just and equal society.”

Through the Global Social Justice Fund, Sony contributed to over 400 community partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as the Asian American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (AALDEF), Asian Americans Advancing Justice, The Doe Fund, JustLeadership USA, the International African American Museum and others.

The CSR Award, presented last night at GBA’s Annual Dinner in Washington D.C., showcases the significant contributions that international companies make to local U.S. communities. Finalists for the award included the following GBA members:

• In 2021, BACARDÍ partnered with the NAACP to commit more than $350,000 to support Black representation and ownership among liquor licenses for BACARDÍ accounts. The initiative directly assisted existing and potential Black retailers and provided entrepreneurship solutions for their various establishments. From well over 1,000 applicants, nearly 60 entrepreneurs and business owners across the country have participated in this program.
• To increase access to STEM pathways for underrepresented Philadelphia students in related career fields, GSK established the Philadelphia STEM Equity Collective. This project has committed to donating $10 million over the next 10 years and has collaborated with local organizations. Through the $3.1 million already dispersed, GSK has reached 130,000 students between the high school and college levels.
• All In for Community Health Workers is a multi-year collaboration between Sanofi U.S. and the National Association of Community Health Workers. The initiative supports the national infrastructure needed to advance community health workers’ self-determination, livelihood and effectiveness. At Sanofi, nearly 200 colleagues across businesses, roles and backgrounds have participated in the project, which was also shared with Sanofi’s 90 advocacy partners.
• The Siemens legal team launched a pro-bono initiative to provide free legal services to marginalized members of society. Despite pandemic challenges, the team conducted 61 pro-bono projects totaling 189 service hours – nearly $100,000 in value. By the end of 2023, Siemens expects to reach a total contribution value of more than $250,000.

GBA applauds the ongoing efforts by these and other GBA members in engaging with communities through innovative programming that meets local needs.

About the Global Business Alliance
As the premier voice of international companies in the United States, the Global Business Alliance (GBA) actively promotes and defends an open economy that welcomes international companies to invest in America. Our members are American companies with global heritage and an indispensable part of our nation’s economic success. When America is open for business, we all benefit. Learn more about how international companies are benefiting U.S. workers and communities by visiting www.globalbusiness.org.