Sony Computer Entertainment America and the Bruce Willis Foundation Raise $100,000 for Charity at PlayStation® BANDtogether

PlayStation Generation Gives Back to Youth in Need Through Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children and ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History With the Help of Hollywood's Hottest Celebrities

PRNewswire
FOSTER CITY, Calif.
12/12/2005

On December 10, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. and the Bruce Willis Foundation, a charitable organization aimed at improving the lives of young people, brought stars and teens together at PlayStation® BANDtogether to compete for a cause. PlayStation BANDtogether, a music and gaming festival, featured a star-studded celebrity gaming tournament where Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Willis, with the help of Johnny Messner, beat out a host of celebrities to win the coveted top donation of $100,000 to benefit Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity and Save the Children. The event also supported ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History. PlayStation BANDtogether was a collaborative effort between Rumer, Scout and Tallulah, along with their friends who wanted to create an event to encourage today's youth to give back to their communities.

"We are extremely proud of the strides these charities are making in our community and feel honored to support them and the PlayStation generation as they take it upon themselves to come together and make this a truly happy holiday season for everyone," said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America.

"Through this partnership with PlayStation, the Bruce Willis Foundation has continued its mission to empower children and better their lives," said Bruce Willis. "My daughters and I are happy to have helped raise awareness for organizations dedicated to these causes and show young people that they have the power to make a difference, too."

At BANDtogether, Bruce, along with stars Tony Hawk, Amber Valetta, Nick Stahl and Krista Allen led their celebrity teams to compete in four challenges testing their agility, vocal styling and PlayStation skills. Team Hawk, supported by Cole and Dylan Sprouse of the Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," and action sports stars Tim O'Conner and Alexis Waite, swept the first three heats. Team Hawk snuck by Team Allen, supported by Kelly Osborne, Jake Moritt and Chad Muska in the first heat playing on Jak X: Combat Racing.

In the second heat's basketball shoot-out, Team Hawk stunned Team Stahl whose members Emile Hirsch, Michelle Trachtenberg and Ryan Donahue were bumped from the competition. The third heat was a close match, but Team Hawk kept its lead during the hockey shoot-out on the hot PSP game Gretzky NHL 2006 knocking Amber Valetta and Joy Bryant out of the competition.

Dave Navarro and Sal Masekela emceed as the final heat pitted Team Hawk up against Team Willis. In the end, it was Rumer Willis' vocal prowess that awed the crowd as her sisters Scout and Tallulah acted as back-up dancers. Audience applause proved Team Willis to be the winner of the final heat, taking first place and the honor of presenting a $50,000 check to Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity and a $50,000 check to Save the Children.

With more than 30 percent of gamers under the age of 18, this holiday the PlayStation generation is proving that they are not apathetic. While they enjoy new technologies such as PlayStation®2 and PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable), they are also reacting to the needs of their country and making a difference through donation. According to a recent G.A.P (The Gamer Advisory Panel) survey conducted by the PlayStation Loyalty Group, 80 percent of the PlayStation community plans to donate time or money to a charitable cause this holiday season. Almost half have volunteered time to charitable causes. Helping kids in need is pertinent to the PlayStation community with one-third of them saying children's charities are the charitable cause that most interests them.

"You can never underestimate the power and determination of kids helping kids," said Charles MacCormack, President and CEO of Save the Children. "Thousands of young people from across the United States mobilized their schools and communities to help children affected by the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Pakistan earthquake. We are grateful to PlayStation BANDtogether for their efforts to create lasting change for children at home and around the world."

The event not only featured kiosks where attendees could learn how to help the community through organizations like ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History, it catered to every kid's desire. Teens mingled with celebrities such as Brooke Burns and David Spade to witness incredible skateboarding maneuvers on the Quiksilver half-pipe. Scott Caan brought his own board to test out the skateboarding facilities.

Michael Rapaport joined Nickelodeon stars Rob Pinkston and Devon Werkheiser to learn how to spin records at the Scratch DJ Academy hosted by El P. Outside the scratch station, DJ sensation DJ AM spun records along with Danny Masterson and Skye Neller while Tori Spelling, Dean McDermott and Brad Rowe enjoyed the PSP and PlayStation 2 gaming areas. Rockers Scott Weiland and Duff McKagan enjoyed the festivities with their kids while Tony Kanal checked out the live performances that included Hot Hot Heat, DJ AM and Travis Barker, The Bravery, The Like and Driveblind. Tyler Hilton and Maria Bello rounded out the event by mingling with younger guests at the Quiksilver t- shirt customization booth and Smashbox make-up booths.

About the Bruce Willis Foundation

Founded 10 years ago by actor Bruce Willis, the Bruce Willis Foundation aims to help improve the lives of young people by empowering children to express themselves in creative ways and providing the support they need to reach their full potential. Organizations that have benefited from the foundation include foster care and adoption programs such as the National Foster Care Fund and the Fostering a Future Program.

About Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity

Launched in 2000, Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity was founded by screenwriter/director Randall Wallace to involve the entertainment industry in raising money, publicity, and volunteer support for Habitat for Humanity's mission of eliminating poverty housing and homelessness from the world and making decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. HFHFH has sponsored more than 150 homes around the world from Los Angeles to New York and Northern Ireland to South Africa. Past supporters include Patricia Arquette, David Arquette, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seth Green, Paige Hemmis, Dustin Hoffman, Greg Kinnear, Chris Klein, Constance Marie, Barry Pepper, Susan Sarandon, Maria Shriver, Stanley Tucci, Bradley Whitford, and Robin Williams. For more information, log on to www.hollywoodforhabitat.com.

About Save the Children

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 110 countries.

About ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History

ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History is an historic effort by Americans to rally Americans, ONE by ONE, to beat AIDS and make poverty history. ONE is a coalition of more than 1.5 million Americans, founded by 11 of the nation's leading relief and advocacy organizations: Bread for the World, CARE, DATA, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Plan USA, Save the Children US, World Concern, and World Vision. For more information, please visit www.one.org.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era. PSP is a new portable entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com/ .

NOTE: "PlayStation" "PSP" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Clark of Sony, +1-650-655-5994, or
jennifer_clark@playstation.sony.com; or Katie Cray, +1-310-854-4800, or
kcray@bncpr.com, for Sony

Web site: http://www.hollywoodforhabitat.com/

Web site: http://www.one.org/

Web site: http://www.playstation.com/