Sun Life has announced a donation of $1 million to help ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts around the world.
The insurer made the donation in recognition of World Health Day. It also follows another donation Sun Life made in March 2020, wherein the insurer funded efforts on health care, elder care and addressed food insecurity needs in markets where it operates – Asia, Canada, and the US.
“Sun Life remains focused on assisting our communities, particularly those most impacted by the pandemic,” said Sun Life president Kevin Strain. “COVID-19 has deepened inequities around the world, and our donation directly supports organizations helping those who need it the most. We believe supporting the needs and well-being of the most vulnerable is key to a healthy and sustainable future for our communities.”
Sun Life revealed that in Canada, a portion of the new $1 million donation will go toward supporting public health units. The funding will be used to assist with vaccine rollout efforts in various communities – with an emphasis on seniors and clinics supporting indigenous populations. The remainder of the funds will help organizations that are dealing with the national mental health and food insecurity crises.
In February, the company gave $100,000 to The Emily Stowe Society at Women’s College Hospital Foundation to support underrepresented members of the health research community. The donation will be used to create the Sun Life Awards for Excellence in Research, which will provide funding for research conducted by those “who identify as female or gender-diverse, are from the Black community, and who specialize in diabetes or mental health research in the Black community.”
