On April 15, more than 100 Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) volunteers participated in Sony Global Volunteer Day, an annual event in which Sony employees around the world give back to their communities.  This year the volunteers took their shovels, paint brushes, and elbow grease to Linwood E. Howe Elementary School in Culver City to complete several projects, including: painting seven new murals, improving the school’s butterfly garden and constructing new benches and picnic tables.

“We are so pleased to be able to participate in this meaningful service day and spend our volunteer hours in our own backyard,” said Lani Monos, SPE’s Employee Volunteer Program Coordinator. “By working together and in collaboration with our partners, City Year Los Angeles and TreePeople, we were able to transform the school in a matter of hours, and we hope the students will continue to enjoy these spaces for years to come.”

SPE’s legacy of volunteerism with the Culver City Unified School District dates back 25 years. “We began our volunteer involvement with Culver City in 1991 when SPE employees organized a project at Farragut Elementary School to mark our relocation to the area,” said Janice Pober, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Social Responsibility, SPE.  “We proudly continue this tradition of giving back here in Culver City and are honored to have this year spent Sony Global Volunteer Day serving the students and families at Linwood E. Howe Elementary.”

Geoffrey Coatar, Sony Pictures Employee and Sony Global Volunteer Day Team Leader said that he felt honored to be able to volunteer at the school.  He added: “The project was a physical labor of love as we built, sanded, stained and painted. I felt uplifted when a teacher and her students came out of the classroom to personally thank us for the work we were doing. It was a stupendous day of service.” 

Dr. Kim Indelicato, Principal of Linwood E. Howe is appreciative of the commitment and results of the SPE volunteers. “ Sony Global Volunteer Day was an amazing event,” she said. “The Sony Pictures volunteers transformed the look of our campus, beautifying and improving the school for students, teachers and parents. We can’t thank Sony Pictures and the volunteers enough.”