Empowering Change: How Sun Life Foundation Transformed Lives and Earned National Honors

In a celebration of purpose-driven impact and community transformation, Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. emerged as a double winner at the prestigious 2025 CSR Guild Awards in Makati City. Hosted by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), the annual event gathered the country’s most committed changemakers to honor CSR initiatives that create lasting difference in Filipino lives.

What set Sun Life Foundation apart wasn’t just its innovative approach—it was the stories behind the programs.

On the shores of Negros Oriental and the Camotes Islands, coastal communities once grappling with financial uncertainty now speak of newfound hope. The Foundation’s partnership with Rare, a global conservation NGO, birthed the project “Building Household Resilience Among Near-Shore Fishers.” Through hands-on financial literacy workshops and access to savings tools, fisherfolk were equipped not just to weather economic storms but to thrive. For this, the initiative was awarded Outstanding CSR Project in Financial Inclusion, a testament to its power to turn livelihoods around.

Meanwhile, far from the bustling metro, in rural barangays where healthcare used to be a distant dream, families are now receiving medical services just steps from their homes. This transformation is thanks to the “Sun Life Barangay Health Stations”—a grassroots health initiative built in collaboration with Health Futures Foundation, Inc. With 13 stations already operational and three more underway, over 40,000 residents now have access to primary healthcare. The project earned the Outstanding CSR Project in Health distinction, shining a light on the Foundation’s commitment to public well-being.

Kristine Millete, the Foundation’s Executive Director, shared, “These awards aren’t just about recognition—they’re about reaffirming our promise to empower communities. We owe this success to our partners, volunteers, and the people who inspire us every day.”

With each award, Sun Life Foundation reinforces its role not just as a benefactor, but as a partner in building resilient, empowered, and healthier Filipino communities. From coastal villages to remote barangays, its mission remains clear: create brighter, more inclusive futures for all.