Sun Life Financial contributes $100,000 to support flood relief in the
Philippines

TORONTO , Oct. 1 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial announced it will contribute $100,000 to support relief efforts for those affected by the severe flooding in the Philippines brought on by Tropical Storm Ketsana. The contribution will come from the Sun Life Financial International Response Fund at the Canadian Red Cross, which will allow the emergency support to be deployed rapidly to the area.

"We've been warmly welcomed in the Philippines ' business community for 114 years, and we want to do our part to help the country - particularly in this time of need," said Stephan Rajotte, President, Sun Life Financial Asia. "We're thankful that this donation can be used immediately and that it will focus on the most critical needs of the Filipino people right now."

"The Canadian Red Cross is grateful for the continued support of Sun Life Financial in times of disaster," says Conrad Sauvé, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Red Cross. "This generous donation will help the Red Cross address the most urgent needs of those affected."

The Sun Life Financial International Response Fund, the first international corporate sponsorship of its kind, was established in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross in 2005 to help it accelerate emergency response to large-scale international crises. Administered by the Canadian Red Cross, the Fund has helped provide immediate relief and resources to several natural disasters in various countries, including India , Pakistan and the Philippines .

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada , the United States , the United Kingdom , Ireland , Hong Kong , the Philippines , Japan , Indonesia , India , China and Bermuda . As of June 30, 2009 , the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $397 billion . For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol SLF.

Note to Editors: All figures in Canadian dollars.

For further information: Media Relations Contact: Kathleen Killen, Manager, Media & Public Relations, Tel: [phone], [email protected]