Social services
Actions speak louder than words Wherever we live and work around the world, we give back to our communities and reach out to those who need our help. In 2009, Sun Life was proud to contribute more than $2 million to make life a little easier for thousands facing disaster, hunger and economic hardship. Of that amount, more than $1 million was distributed in Canada, made up of corporate donations and matching gifts. These dollar amounts were augmented by thousands of hours of employees and advisors’ volunteer activities. Highlights of their contributions can be found on pages 18 and 19.
CAnAdIAn rEd CroSS – dISAStEr rELIEF yWCA toronto – WomEn oF dIStInCtIon AWArdS

The Canadian Red Cross is renowned and respected as the first-response agency in disaster relief, at home and abroad. Following a disaster, the Red Cross arrives on the scene, often within hours, and works with governments and other humanitarian organizations to provide survivors with the basics of life: food, clothing, shelter, first aid, emotional support and family reunification. Red Cross services are based on the specific need of the moment and the role it is asked to take in the local disaster response plan. Sun Life has been a financial supporter of the Canadian Red Cross since 1927, and has been proud to contribute to the widespread good it brings wherever it steps in to help. In 2005, we established the Sun Life Financial International Response Fund with the Canadian Red Cross, the first-ever such fund – support that enables the Red Cross to react instantly to international disaster relief efforts. In 2009, we committed $100,000 to the fund.

Photo: Michael T Photography and Design

Front row (L to r): The Hon. Hilary Weston; Beverley Wybrow; Amy Go. Back row (L to r): Jessica Yee; Peggy nash; Angela robertson; ilana Landsberg-Lewis.

Special note on the Haiti earthquake disaster
On January 12, 2010, as this report was being prepared, a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti. Sun Life immediately joined in the worldwide outpouring of relief effort for the people of that devastated nation. Since these donations will be tabulated in the 2010 fiscal year, a full report on our Haiti relief contribution will be included in our next Public Accountability Statement.

The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards recognizes the leadership and outstanding contribution of women in various fields. These women have been an inspiration to thousands as they set new standards for leadership and effectiveness. In 2009, Sun Life was again proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Awards ceremony, and felt privileged to join in the accolades for the “magnificent seven”: Amy Go for Access and Opportunity; Ilana Landsberg-Lewis for International Development; Peggy Nash for Labour; Angela Robertson for Social Change; and Beverley Wybrow for Community Leadership. Jessica Yee was named 2009’s Young Woman of Distinction for her work in inspiring activism in girls and young women, and The Honourable Hilary M. Weston received the President’s Award for her lifetime of leadership in public and private life.

www.sunlife.com

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SECond hArVESt It is difficult to imagine that in an affluent city such as Toronto, each day thousands of residents, many of them children, go hungry. Second Harvest works to ease this ever-present and growing issue. Every morning, Second Harvest’s refrigerated trucks roll out to grocery stores, restaurants, food manufacturers and distributors, to collect donated, high-quality fruits, vegetables, dairy products, frozen foods and meats that would otherwise go to waste. Second Harvest currently provides enough food for over 15,000 meals a day for children in after-school programs, seniors on fixed incomes, women fleeing domestic abuse, psychiatric patients, homeless people, and many others who have fallen on hard times. Sun Life has been a long-standing supporter of Second Harvest, primarily through our sponsorship of Toronto Taste – a highly anticipated annual culinary festival featuring top local and international chefs. Toronto Taste has become a premier fundraiser for Second Harvest. The 2009 event raised enough money to provide 300,000 meals for the hungry in Toronto.

unItEd WAy/CEntrAIdE For 68 years, Sun Life has supported United Way| Centraide agencies across Canada. By donating to local campaigns, we know that the money raised remains in the community, improving the lives of people who need our help. In 2009, 83 United Way| Centraide agencies received a total of $1,218,642 from Sun Life – made up of corporate donations and the personal giving of our employees and advisors across Canada. For the seventh consecutive year, we received the “Thanks A Million” award in recognition of our efforts in generating more than $1 million for this respected organization.
Please see our International section on page 21 of this report for examples of Sun Life’s social services support outside of Canada.

Education
Acting today for leadership and excellence tomorrow As a leader in the Canadian financial services sector, with an expanding international presence, we support institutions and organizations dedicated to increasing financial knowledge and building a stronger, more competitive economy. unIVErSIty oF WAtErLoo, ontArIo
As a financial services organization providing life and health insurance to millions of customers around the world, Sun Life has a keen interest in the discipline of actuarial science. In 2009, we donated $50,000 against our total pledge of $100,000 to establish the Sun Life Financial Master of Actuarial Science Graduate Scholarships at U of W. Each year, for a period of four years, two scholarships of $12,500 each will be awarded, on the basis of academic merit, to full-time graduate students enrolled in the school’s Master of Actuarial Science (MActSc) degree program. We also pledged $10,000 over four years to sponsor an annual lecture series for alumni and students.

Now in its 53rd successful year, the University of Waterloo (U of W) consistently produces some of Canada’s most innovative leaders, and has earned international recognition for the calibre and expertise of its graduates.

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Sun Life Financial | Public Accountability Statement 2009