Sun Life Financial and Canada's children's hospitals form unprecedented partnership to fight type 2 diabetes Français
Donation creates the Sun Life Financial Child and Youth
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Initiative
TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2017 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) proudly announces the launch of the Sun Life Financial Child and Youth Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Initiative, funded by a $2 million commitment to Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations ("CCHF"). This first of its kind, national initiative, harnesses the power of Canada's 13 pediatric hospitals to provide preventative strategies and promote a healthier future for children at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
"Awareness and education are the greatest tools we have to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes," said Lisa Ritchie, Senior Vice-President & Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Life Financial. "We are honoured to be able to team up with Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations and their network of esteemed pediatric experts to make a positive impact in our communities and continue our fight against the disease."
Since announcing a global commitment to diabetes in 2012, Sun Life Financial's Team Up Against Diabetes TM platform has focused support on diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research. The partnership with CCHF is a new initiative that will allow Sun Life Financial and the hospital network to work together to positively influence children and youth to live healthier lives with the goal of preventing type 2 diabetes.
Through the Sun Life Financial Child and Youth Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Initiative, diabetes experts at children's hospitals across Canada will create educational resources to promote the prevention of type 2 diabetes. These include:
- A toolkit for healthcare professionals to help address obesity and its related risks in a sensitive and effective manner (handouts and videos).
- A Resource Hub for families and healthcare professionals, serving as a reliable source of consistent and approved healthy living information.
- A Recipe Blog targeted at teens featuring healthy recipes.
- Food Skills and Facilitator's Guide focused on teaching nutrition literacy to teens.
All 13 of CCHF's member hospitals will have access to these resources to share with and educate the communities they serve, raising awareness of the importance of type 2 diabetes prevention in children.
"We are grateful to Sun Life Financial for this generous gift and commend our newest corporate partner for helping to create a national collaboration working to address this children's health issue," said Mark Hierlihy, President and CEO, CCHF. "The work that will result from this partnership will help fill a gap by providing standardized and consistent advice and tools for families."
The 13 member hospital foundations that comprise CCHF are: Janeway Children's Hospital Foundation; IWK Foundation; CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation; The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation; Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation; SickKids Foundation; McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation; Children's Health Foundation; The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba; Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation; Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation; Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation; and BC Children's Hospital Foundation.
Sun Life Financial is focused on helping people achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives, taking a holistic approach to supporting the well-being of our Clients, Employees and communities with the end goal of helping to achieve physical, mental and financial resiliency both now and in the future. Sun Life Financial has proudly committed more than $22 million in support of diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives since announcing support of the cause.
Sun Life Financial in the community
At Sun Life Financial, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life and we're proud to hold the Caring Company designation from Imagine Canada. 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 two key areas: health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives through our Team Up Against DiabetesTM platform; and arts and culture, through our award-winning Making the Arts More Accessible TM program. 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 over 40,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada. Read more about Sun Life Financial in the community.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
About Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations (CCHF)
Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations (CCHF), established in 2017, is a not-for-profit organization that raises funds for a national network of hospital foundations as the largest single, non-government funder of child health in Canada. CCHF continues to receive generous support through donors within Children's Miracle Network® as well as contributions from new companies and donors. Together, our donors help expand the impact through Canada's children's hospitals from coast to coast, which see the most critical cases, saving the lives of sick and injured children. For more information, please visit childrenshospitals.ca.
Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.
Media Relations Contact:
Yasna Criscione
Manager, Corporate Communications
Sun Life Financial
T: 416-204-8110
[email protected]
Christina Deveau
Manager, Partner Experience
Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations
T. 905-265-9750 x 226
SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada
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