- First-ever Making Lives Brighter Sun Life Singapore Social Impact Report outlines progress on the company’s philanthropic initiatives and future plans
- Over S$1.2 million contributed to local philanthropic initiatives from 2020 to 2024
- Projected donations of over S$700,000 in 2025 will continue to support Diabetes health initiative, and a new strategic focus on financial literacy and resilience for low-income households in Singapore
- Expanded Hoops + Health programme to reach more youths and promote active living
Singapore (12 August 2025) – Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada Singapore Branch (“Sun Life Singapore”), a branch of an established global financial services organisation (“Sun Life”), today announces the launch of its first Social Impact Report, titled Making Lives Brighter.
The report represents a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to creating a healthier and brighter future for everyone, while setting the stage for an expanded suite of social impact initiatives planned for 2025 and beyond.
The Making Lives Brighter report details Sun Life Singapore’s philanthropic achievements in 2024, particularly in Diabetes prevention, mental wellness, and active living, through close collaboration with a range of social agency partners. It also spotlights the company’s two key enablers of social impact – the “Life is Brighter” charity fund and the Sun Life Singapore Philanthropic Pledge.
Christopher Albrecht, Chief Executive Officer, Sun Life Singapore, said: “We are incredibly proud to launch our inaugural Social Impact Report, which provides a snapshot of our community efforts so far. This gives us a benchmark that helps us track our progress to ensure our philanthropic efforts continue to yield tangible results.
“We believe our communities should grow alongside our business and flourish together. Since establishing our office in Singapore in 2020, we have contributed over S$1.2 million to local philanthropic initiatives till end 2024. In 2025, we are specifically expanding our philanthropic focus to include programmes that strengthen financial literacy and resilience. Through these efforts to-date, alongside our ongoing work in Diabetes prevention and mental wellness, we aim to support more than 42,000 beneficiaries to live healthier lives.”
Building on the momentum outlined in the Making Lives Brighter report, Sun Life Singapore will strengthen and broaden its efforts in 2025 and beyond, reflecting the company’s growing commitment to protecting and uplifting communities.
Expanding the Sun Life Singapore Philanthropic Pledge
Sun Life Singapore remains committed to its innovation focus in redefining how insurance can give back. Launched in 2023 in partnership with Community Chest, the Sun Life Singapore Philanthropic Pledge was the first in the local life insurance market to embed upfront philanthropic giving within a life insurance product. With each purchase of selected SunBrilliance insurance products, Sun Life Singapore donates 0.5% of the premiums received, with a cap of US$20,000 per policy, to charity.
Since its inception, the Pledge has grown in scope. Initially launched with SunBrilliance Indexed Universal Life, it was extended to SunBrilliance Whole Life in 2024, and most recently to SunBrilliance Indexed Universal Life II in June 2025. This will enable the company to generate more donations to empower beneficiaries in need in the immediate term.
Deepening impact through the “Life is Brighter” Fund
The “Life is Brighter” charity fund1, launched in September 2024, continues to serve as the cornerstone of Sun Life Singapore’s community outreach efforts. It channels philanthropic donations from the company’s Philanthropic Pledge, corporate donations, and fundraising initiatives to carefully selected local programmes.
In 2025, the fund will expand its focus beyond health-related causes to include financial literacy and resilience. Sun Life Singapore projects to generate over S$700,000 in donations through this fund during the year.
Continued focus: Diabetes prevention and mental wellness
Diabetes and mental wellness remain core pillars of Sun Life Singapore’s philanthropic objectives, given their far-reaching impact on individual well-being and public health. In 2025, Sun Life Singapore will continue working with long-standing partners including KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), Singapore Association for Mental Health, TOUCH Community Services, and Limitless, supporting programmes in Diabetes prevention, counselling, and mental health rehabilitation.
In Singapore, more than 400,000 people live with Diabetes today, with the number projected to rise to 1 million by 20502. To strengthen early detection and improve outcomes, Sun Life Singapore is supporting KKH to launch Singapore’s first comprehensive programme that incorporates detailed testing for children who are newly diagnosed with Diabetes and their unaffected siblings. This programme aims to better understand Diabetes in children, identify those at higher risk, and enable targeted interventions earlier.
In addition, Sun Life continues to support the Sun Life - KKH Lite Programme, which helps families and children with obesity build healthy habits for long-term health. The programme will run from 2025 to 2027.
New focus area: Financial literacy and resilience
Financial well-being is a growing concern for many households, particularly among lower-income families. In 2025, Sun Life Singapore will work with its strategic partner Community Chest to launch holistic programmes that promote financial literacy and resilience through practical enablers such as employment assistance.
These efforts aim to tackle the complex challenges faced by individuals and families in need, helping them towards stable employment and build sustainable financial foundations for the future.
Promoting healthy living through Hoops + Health
Early prevention is an essential aspect of public health strategy, not only for reducing disease burden but also for empowering individuals to lead healthier lives. As part of this commitment, Sun Life continues to scale its regional Hoops + Health community programme, which leverages basketball to encourage physical activity and wellness among youth.
Since its launch in 2024, the programme has helped over 14,000 individuals across six markets in Asia get active, with a goal of reaching 45,000 people by the end of 2025. To build on this success, Sun Life is increasing its investment from CAD 1 million to CAD 1.5 million in 2025.
In Singapore, the company has trained 15 coaches, hosted free basketball and workshop sessions for more than 100 youths, and will reach over 800 youths through trained coaches this year. It also held its Hoops + Health basketball tournament on 5 June, bringing together nearly 100 beneficiary youths to celebrate their achievements, build confidence, and strengthen their sense of belonging and well-being through sport.
Chew Sutat, Chairman, Community Chest said: “Sun Life Singapore is an exemplary organisation, demonstrating how companies can infuse sustainable philanthropy into their business to uplift communities in need through their multi-year partnership with Community Chest and embedding giving mechanisms into business models. Their contributions provide the social service sector with steady resources for causes ranging from mental health to helping children and youths at risk, who require services such as counselling, social and financial support, and pre-school education assistance.”
View the full social impact report here.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organisation providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30 , 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.54 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. For more information about Sun Life Singapore, pls visit www.sunlife.com.sg.
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.
