MANILA, Philippines - Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation Inc. reaffirms its commitment to help build a brighter world through strong programs and volunteerism as it enters a new phase five years after its incorporation.
“We’re entering 2014 with a renewed vigor fueled by all the accomplishments of the past five years wherein we were able to touch so many lives in many different ways,†said Sun Life Foundation executive director Joub Miradora. “It’s truly fulfilling to know that the sustainable programs and partnerships we supported have helped many distressed Filipinos.â€
With the banner campaign of “Brighter World,†the Foundation has already given close to a P100 million to the different causes it champions, such as education, health and well-being, environment, culture, and the arts.
In the field of education, Sun Life Foundation expanded its scholarship program to accommodate more scholars in different universities nationwide who are taking up critical courses such as Mathematics and Biology. To date it has also sponsored more than 40 college scholars in various universities nationwide.
A professorial chair grant amounting to P1.2 million was also donated to the University of the Philippines Diliman to help in financing the researches and other academic works of professors in the Institute of Mathematics and School of Statistics.
The foundation also supported livelihood projects for the residents of the Legacy of Light Village in Calauan, Laguna. Close to 100 residents, who used to be informal settlers along Estero de Paco near Pasig River, now not only enjoy a safe and secure environment in the village that Sun Life Foundation helped build, they also enjoy the company’s support in their pursuit of livelihood.
Funded by Sun Life Foundation, close to 1,000 micro-entrepreneurs of Microventures Foundation Inc. enjoyed a special learning program on how to properly handle their finances in their sari-sari stores. The program continues to expand to benefit more participants.
Meanwhile, a substantial donation was awarded to Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind Inc. to help 3,000 Filipinos who needed assistance in improving their eyesight.
Sun Life Foundation also promptly responded to help those affected by the natural disasters that struck the Philippines last year. Donations both in cash and in kind were handed over to the Philippine Red Cross, ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, and Healthcare Advantage Institute, among others, to aid those affected by calamities including Typhoon Maring, the magnitude-7 earthquake in Bohol, and Typhoon Yolanda.
“Sun Life Foundation will continue to advocate sustainable programs and partnerships because those ensure that more Filipinos will benefit and more sectors can be included,†Miradora shared. “We look forward to the opportunity to help and the Filipinos can count on Sun Life Foundation to be there in times of need.â€
Sun Life Financial is represented in the Philippines by its life insurance arm, Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. (SLOCPI); its mutual fund manager, Sun Life Asset Management Co. Inc. (SLAMCI); and its pre-need company, Sun Life Financial Plans Inc (SLFPI). Sun Life Financial – Philippines Foundation Inc. is the philanthropy arm of Sun Life Financial in the Philippines.