CEO message

Acting today for a brighter tomorrow – a message from CEO Donald Stewart

For Sun Life, 2009 was a year of action. As we began to emerge from the effects of global financial turbulence, still facing economic challenges but focused on steady recovery, we took action by investing in ways to build a healthier, greener, better educated, more culturally enriched society.

In 2009, Sun Life donated nearly $10 million to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations around the world. These dollars were augmented by our volunteers who gave tens of thousands of hours of their time to worthy causes and organizations.

We took action on a wide range of causes, issues and matters of importance to our future. Because the future is what social responsibility at Sun Life is all about. We believe in a future where individuals, families and children live healthier lives in clean, sustainable communities, armed with the financial knowledge, skills and confidence they need to plan for a secure and bright future.

We invested $3.5 million in health and wellness-related causes in Canada – much of that went to support programs that counter poor nutritional habits and a dangerous decline in physical activity. We sponsored a cross-Canada tour with ParticipACTION, the national organization promoting increased physical activity. We supported a program that encourages teenagers to take an interest in nutrition and exercise, and we helped fund an innovative program that identifies children at risk and develops intervention strategies to help them avoid obesity-related conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

To increase our understanding of issues arising from an aging population, we supported important studies into the physical processes of aging, and also funded a new mobility research and rehabilitation centre.

We’ve expanded our sustainability programs, including improvements in our recycling and waste reduction programs, new investments in clean and renewable energy, and a stepped-up strategy to ensure environmentally responsible green office space in the buildings we own and manage.

An initiative launched in 2009 underscores our belief in the need for financial education, The Canadian government established a national Task Force on Financial Literacy. As Chair of that Task Force, and a firm believer that people need to be more financially aware to plan and achieve secure financial futures, I look forward to deliberating with my Task Force colleagues to design recommendations on a national strategy.

These are a few of the ways we are Acting today for a brighter tomorrow.
Donald Stewart

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