TORONTO, April 30, 2021 /CNW/ - Sun Life is donating $100,000 to support relief efforts in India for those affected by the devastating second wave of COVID-19. With over 300,000 new infections a day, India is experiencing the world's highest rate of daily cases. The majority of the donation will go to the Canadian Red Cross who is working closely with the Indian Red Cross. They are assisting local agencies in providing medical and emotional support for those most at-risk. This includes transportation and providing oxygen for critical patients. Approximately $25,000 of the donation will go to a regional charity to boost local efforts.
"The situation in India is dire and extremely concerning. It's a reminder of the tragic toll this pandemic continues to take around the world," said Kevin Strain, President, Sun Life. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are fighting the virus. Our donation will directly help those who are in need of immediate aid."
Sun Life has operations globally including an office in Gurgaon, India. There are more than 2,000 employees based there, who provide 24/7 support to the organization worldwide. Their resilience and dedication is unwavering. The health and safety of these employees remains a top priority and Sun Life is working with local teams and health officials to provide care and support.
The local office in India has also donated over $55,000 to The Akshaya Patra Foundation to aid in the distribution of grocery kits to vulnerable families. This donation supported over 8,100 people. In addition, employees have raised funds to serve cooked meals to migrant workers and those who are underprivileged.
Since the pandemic began, Sun Life has donated $2 million to help the ongoing relief efforts and address health inequalities. Those funds focused on health care, elder care, mental health, vaccine rollout and addressing food insecurity needs in markets where Sun Life operates: Asia, Canada and the United States.
To learn more about how Sun Life is making a difference in the community, read their 2020 Sustainability Report.
Sun Life in the community
At Sun Life, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, and care initiatives; and mental health, supporting programs and organizations with a focus on building resilience and coping skills.
We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering close to 12,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada.
Learn more about Sun Life in the community.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2020, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1,247 billion. For more information please visit sunlife.com
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
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SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.
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