ESA to honor Sony's Kazuo Hirai at this year's 'Nite to Unite'

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced that it will be naming Sony president Kazuo "Kaz" Hirai as this year's Champion Honoree at the annual "Nite to Unite - For Kids" gala. "I'm extremely honored to be recognized by the ESA," Hirai said in conjunction with the announcement. "Being a part of the gaming world for the past 18 years, where I've had the opportunity to work with some of the most creative and brilliant people across the globe, has been one of the most rewarding periods of my career." Now in its 16th year, the "Nite to Unite" gala is an annual fundraising event put together by the ESA, with the goal of raising money for college scholarships and grants to youth organizations. Past Champion Honorees include industry veterans such as Blizzard's Mike Morhaime and Valve's Gabe Newell. This year's "Nite to Unite" will be held this October 23rd in San Francisco.