WELLESLEY, Mass., Aug. 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life U.S. has selected the
six recipients of the 2024 Health Access Grants, awarded to
organizations addressing health and wellness issues in communities
that often lack access to care. Launched as the Team Up Against
Diabetes Grant program in 2016, the Health Access grant program has
expanded from diabetes to include oral health care and other
related health issues that are especially prevalent in underserved
communities.
"Access to care continues to be a significant challenge for many
in our country, and we are happy to support these local
organizations that are making a difference in their communities,"
said Dan Fishbein, M.D., president, Sun Life U.S. "We hope
that supported by our grants, these groups can continue to launch
and run programs that bring impactful health services to the people
who need them most."
The Health Access Grant program enables Sun Life to engage
directly with nonprofit organizations that offer a variety of
health services, from community farmer's markets providing
nutritious food, to clinics offering medical diabetes intervention
or oral health services. Since the inception of the grant program,
Sun Life has given more than $2
million to organizations around the country, helping to
provide access to health programs for thousands of individuals and
families.
The 2024 winners of the Sun Life Health Access grants are:
Dental Connections| Smile Squad Mobile Dentistry
Program
Des Moines,
Iowa
The Health Access grant will help Dental Connections continue to
expand its mobile program that brings oral health care on-site at
more than 80 schools and community organizations throughout the
year. Dental Connections aims to expand the reach of the Smile
Squad program to designated dental health professional shortage
areas (HPSAs), or "dental deserts," which are underserved areas
that lack easy access to dental providers and services.
LevelUp Kids Inc| Free Dental Care for Homeless
Teens
Kansas City,
Mo.
With the Health Access grant, LevelUp Kids will provide dental
care at the Synergy Youth Resiliency Center in the Northland area
of Kansas City. Services include
plaque removal and teeth polishing to prevent gum disease, as well
as fillings and extractions. Patients also receive follow up calls
to discuss progress and future oral health needs.
Limbs for Life Foundation (LFL)| Support for limb
loss associated with diabetes
Oklahoma City
The Health Access grant will fund loss-of-limb care for 16 new
diabetic patients, as well as educational materials related to
prosthetic limbs, wound care, and nutrition and healthy living.
Limbs for Life aims to help people return to the workforce, school
and other daily activities.
Tulsa Cornerstone Assistance Network| Food as
Medicine for Black & Native American
Youth
Tulsa,
Okla.
The Health Access grant will support Tulsa Cornerstone's Food as
Medicine program, which aims to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes
in Black and Native communities. The program is led by YouthWorks,
an afterschool initiative that empowers primarily Black and Native
children to overcome childhood obesity through gardening, nutrition
and healthy cooking education, and fitness.
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades (VIMCC)|
Health Within Reach
Bend, Oreg.
The Health Within Reach program provides dental care and
diabetes support for low-income families in Central Oregon. The Health Access grant will
help launch an innovative program that combines diabetes education
with access to oral health care. Participants receive educational
materials, grocery store gift cards and an established dental home
with VIMCC.
West Virginia Health Right| Expanding access to
oral health care in Southern West
Virginia
Charleston,
W. Va.
A 2017 recipient of the Sun Life Team Up Against Diabetes grant,
West Virginia Health Right will use its Health Access grant to
support continued growth of on-site and mobile dental clinics in
Southern West Virginia. They have
provided care to more than 13,000 low-income patients since 2017
and aim to reach 6,000 per year across the region.
Sun Life is committed to broadening access to health care and
services through its community outreach and philanthropy. In
addition to the annual grant program, DentaQuest, part of Sun Life
U.S., recently announced its Health Access Hero awards recognizing
those on the frontlines working to increase access to care and
optimize health outcomes for communities most in need.
Sun Life partners with the Boston Celtics, Maine Celtics, and
Kansas City Royals, to bring fitness programs to local youth
organizations, and raise funds for diabetes and health initiatives.
Sun Life is also a national sponsor of the American Diabetes
Association's Power Up program.
Visit
www.sunlife.com/us/en/about/our-community-involvement/health-access-grant-program/
for more information about the Sun Life Health Access Grant
program.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international
financial services organization 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 United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong
Kong, the Philippines,
Japan, Indonesia, India, China,
Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30,
2024, Sun Life had total assets under management of
C$1.46 trillion. 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 the
ticker symbol SLF.
Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and
government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans
access the healthcare and coverage they need. Through employers,
industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S.
offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental,
vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health,
medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life
employs more than 8,500 people in the U.S., including associates in
our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset
management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada
(Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except
in New York, where policies are
issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.)
(Lansing, Mich.). For more
information visit our website and newsroom.
Media contacts
Devon Fernald
Sun Life U.S.
Devon.Portney.Fernald@sunlife.com
781-800-3609
Connect with Sun Life U.S.
https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial
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SOURCE Sun Life U.S.
