Sony Open in Hawaii Sponsorship Contract Renewed Until 2022

TOKYO, Dec. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced that it has extended its sponsorship contract of the Sony Open in Hawaii for an additional four years, until 2022. The tournament is part of the PGA Tour and is organized with Friends of Hawaii Charities.

The Sony Open has been continuously sponsored by Sony since 1999, and next year's tournament marks the 20^th anniversary of this sponsorship. Every year, all proceeds from this event are channeled back into the Hawaiian community and donated to charitable organizations that support children, women, the elderly, and the poor. With a significant start of generating $256,000 for charities¹ in 1999, the tournament charity proceeds have surpassed the $1 million mark annually for the 13 years since 2005. With a total of approximately $17 million donated to 350 charities, the tournament is the largest charity sports event in Hawaii.

1: Since 2000, proceeds from the tournament have been matched by The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., a charity partner that assists low-income and vulnerable individuals and families through nonprofit grants to direct-service providers. Find out more at http://hjweinbergfoundation.org/

Kazuo Hirai, President & CEO, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Sony Corporation:

"2018 will be the momentous 20th anniversary of the Sony Open in Hawaii. I am proud to announce that Sony has decided to renew its sponsorship once again, until 2022. To us, the Sony Open is not just a golf tournament; it has allowed us to provide continuous support to the local Hawaiian community. Together with everyone involved in organizing the tournament and our charitable partners at The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, we hope to continue contributing to the people of Hawaii."          

Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner:

"As we approach the 20th anniversary of Sony's sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii, it's important to recognize the impact Sony has had on the tournament's stability, success and growth since 1999. We congratulate Sony for reaching this milestone in 2018 as one of our longest continuous tournament sponsors, and we thank them for extending this outstanding partnership for another four years."

Corbett Kalama, President, Friends of Hawaii Charities:

"Sony has given a great gift to the people of Hawaii today by extending its sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii. Sony's support of Hawaii's PGA Tour event will continue to be a conduit of blessing to thousands of individuals in Hawaii's not-for-profit and tourism sectors, as it has for the past twenty years. This generous sponsorship commitment of Sony Corporation and of charity partner The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., coupled with the steadfast support of Waialae Country Club and over 1,500 world-class volunteers, is the recipe that makes Hawaii charities the biggest winners each year at the Sony Open.

Working together, we are committed to increasing annual charitable giving to over $1.2 million to benefit Hawaii-based not-for-profit projects that support Hawaii's children, women, elderly, and impoverished."  Kalama continued.  "Additionally, the valuable support of the State of Hawaii and Hawaii Tourism Authority for the Sony Open in Hawaii, gives the world a window into our tropical paradise during the winter months, showcasing its alluring beauty and aloha to a global television audience, ultimately benefitting the tourism industry."

The 2018 Sony Open in Hawaii is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2018. A summary of the event, including athletes scheduled to compete, is as follows:

SOURCE Sony