Nancy Gaudet, founder of the nonprofit Type One Families based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, has been named a 2025 Health Access Hero Award recipient by Sun Life U.S. and DentaQuest. The award includes a $10,000 donation to a charity chosen by the honoree. Gaudet started Type One Families after her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and she identified a lack of support for parents and families facing similar challenges. The organization now operates support groups throughout coastal Massachusetts.
"I am honored to receive a Health Access Hero Award, as I know firsthand the need to support families who live with type 1 diabetes," said Gaudet. "With the donation from Sun Life and DentaQuest, Type One Families will be able to continue growing its reach across Massachusetts and connect more families who can lean on each other while navigating living with diabetes."
The Health Access Hero Awards recognize individuals and nonprofits working to improve access to health services in underserved communities across the United States. According to Sun Life U.S., there are two categories for these awards: grants supporting community health programs and recognition for individuals making significant contributions to health access locally. Individual recipients receive a $10,000 donation directed toward their chosen charity. Since its inception, the program has distributed over $3.5 million in grants and recognized more than 130 people nationwide.
"Sun Life and DentaQuest are committed to broadening access to care through philanthropic initiatives that can have large-scale impact at local levels," said David Healy, president of Sun Life U.S. "Every year, we receive hundreds of nominations, and we want to thank all the unsung Heroes doing the hard work, day in and day out. Nancy Gaudet is bringing an important service to families by helping people connect and support each other as they learn to live with type 1 diabetes. Nancy, thank you for your impressive work as you strive to create more equitable access for all."
DentaQuest is part of Sun Life U.S.'s dental business segment focused on improving oral health through preventive care solutions and expanded access across various healthcare settings. The company manages dental benefits for about 35 million Americans and operates approximately 75 dental practices serving underserved communities.
Sun Life Financial Inc., which trades on multiple stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF, provides financial services including asset management, insurance, wealth management, and health solutions worldwide. As of September 30, 2025, it reported total assets under management of C$1.62 trillion.
More information about Nancy Gaudet’s work can be found at https://typeonefamilies.org/. Details about all recipients of the 2025 Health Access Hero Awards are available at https://www.dentaquest.com/en/about-us/health-access-heroes.