Denis Handlin presenting a cheque to the Salvation Army for the Bushfire Appeal

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Sony Presents Cheque for $1.6 million To Salvation Army

by Paul Cashmere - June 26 2009
photo by Ros O'Gorman

Denis Handlin AM from Sony Music Australia handed over a cheque for $1.6 million to the Salvation Army today from money raised from the Bushfire Aid album.

The Sony Music Chairman and CEO told Undercover, ?Ç£It is wonderful to see how the Australian public reacted through adversity as Australians always do. When we put this CD together which we did in record time, we turned it around in 4 days. We got approval, amazingly so within 48 hours from many international artists like Bruce Springsteen and Beyonce. All of the Australian artists rallied brilliantly and sold over 110,000 units and raised over $1.6 million?Ç¥.

Denis is also Sony Foundation Governor, a charity he founded within Sony 10 years ago.

The presentation was made today at the Sony Foundation?ÇÖs AFL: It?ÇÖs A Serious Business event at Melbourne?ÇÖs Crown Casino.

In a statement prior to the luncheon, Denis said in a statement, ?Ç£It is a great honour to present this cheque for $1.6 million dollars to The Salvation Army?ÇÖs Bushfire Appeal today. The public support has been fantastic with sales of the CD now having reached 110,000 copies since release in mid-February. Our donation today will go a long way in assisting the youth of the affected areas through the fantastic initiative by The Salvation Army of establishing a network of youth support and music programs.

My sincere thanks also go to all the artists, songwriters, music publishers and record companies for generously donating their tracks and songs. Also our thanks go to Sony DADC for kindly donating their CD manufacturing services, as well as all our media and digital channel partners that supported us so generously with the project.?Ç¥

On behalf of the Salvation Army, Colonel Raymond Finger, Chief Secretary, Australian Southern Territory said, ?Ç£The Salvation Army is delighted with the generosity shown by Sony Music and the Sony Foundation and the wider music industry in the giving of this donation. This project will aid in the healing process, allowing those engaged to tell their story in a number of ways including music.?Ç¥

?ÇÿBushfire Aid: Artists for the Bushfire Appeal?ÇÖ sold 110,000 copies after being released days after the disaster.

Watch what Denis Handlin had to say here:

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