PORTLAND, ME – The Maine Celtics, working alongside Sun Life U.S., today unveiled the newly-renovated basketball court at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine.

The renovation of the court at the Portland Clubhouse features Maine Celtics branding and updates the court design. With several leagues and events hosted on its floor, the heavily used gym was originally refurbished by the Maine Red Claws in 2012.

“Our organization has been a big supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, and we’re glad that Sun Life is as well,” said Maine Celtics President Dajuan Eubanks. “We cannot think of a better way to kick off the summer than by teaming up to give the Portland court a much-needed upgrade.”

A longtime partner of the Boston Celtics, Sun Life U.S. is a leading provider of health-connected benefits and services that help people access the care and coverage they need. Sun Life has had a strong presence in the Greater Portland area for years, working with local organizations to support communities in need.

“It is truly special to see kids get so excited about a new gym where they can play, exercise, learn, and have fun,” said Dan Fishbein, M.D., president of Sun Life U.S. “We are thrilled to be able to support the Boys and Girls Club of Portland, a vital community organization that does so much for local kids. We look forward to seeing basketball games and other activities played in this new gym.”

As part of today’s celebration, the Maine Celtics hosted a free one-hour clinic for Boys and Girls Club members, led by Maine Celtics Assistant General Manager Ashley Battle.

“We are immensely grateful to Sun Life and the Maine Celtics for this generous gift,” said Brian Elowe, chief executive officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. “Health and Wellness programming is an essential part of what we do here at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine. Our Portland Clubhouse is nearly 100 years old and we rely on support from the Southern Maine community to ensure our members have all the resources they need to thrive. With this new court they can continue to have access to sports, physical education, and team-building experiences.”

About the Maine Celtics

Originally called the Maine Red Claws, the Maine Celtics have been the NBA G League Affiliate of the Boston Celtics since the team’s inaugural campaign during the 2009-10 season. The Boston Celtics purchased the franchise prior to the start of the 2019-20 season and renamed the team to the Maine Celtics in May 2021. The Celtics play their home games at the Portland Expo. During the Red Claws/Celtics’ first 11 seasons in Maine, 20 players have earned GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA, including four players to Boston. Additionally, 37 Boston Celtics have been assigned to Maine for development or rehabilitation. 14 former Maine coaches have made the jump to the NBA, including Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, and Boston Celtics Director of Player Personnel Austin Ainge.

About the NBA G League

The NBA’s official minor league, the NBA G League prepares players, coaches, officials, training and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory.  Featuring 30 teams, 28 with direct affiliations to NBA franchises for 2022-23, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.  A record 47 percent of all players on 2022-23 NBA opening night rosters boasted NBA G League experience.  In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Cares programs.

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 March 31, 2023, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.36 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 more than 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 U.S. and affiliated companies in asset management employ approximately 8,000 people in the U.S. 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.