Sun Life U.S. and the Boston Celtics have concluded the 12th annual #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes campaign, raising $125,000 for the YMCA of Greater Boston. The campaign took place during National Diabetes Month in November, with Sun Life donating $1,000 for each Celtics dunk and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation matching donations up to $25,000.
The Celtics recorded 52 dunks in November, led by Neemias Queta with 22 and Josh Minott with 10. Fans participated by voting for their favorite dunks on Instagram, casting over 26,000 votes throughout the month. Each vote generated an additional donation from Sun Life.
David Shapiro, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, said: "Diabetes continues to be linked to a wide range of factors and is a major health risk that can lead to more challenging health conditions. We are so appreciative of our deeply committed partners, Sun Life and the Celtics, who have both elevated awareness, education, and YGB's programming that provides the knowledge, tools and routines for health and thriving. In partnership, we are able to reach so many more of our neighbors of all ages across Greater Boston."
The weekly winning dunks were:
- Week 1: Josh Minott vs. Utah
- Week 2: Jaylen Brown at Orlando
- Week 3: Neemias Queta vs. Memphis
- Week 4: Neemias Queta vs. Brooklyn
Ted Dalton, chief partnership officer for the Boston Celtics stated: "#SunLifeDunk4Diabetes is great because it lets the fans become involved in supporting an important cause. The Celtics organization is committed to the health and wellness of the Greater Boston community, and we know Sun Life shares that commitment. We are so grateful to be able to continue supporting the YMCA of Greater Boston this season."
Sun Life has worked with the Celtics over several years to support programs expanding access to health services in local communities. Alongside #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes, they run Fit to Win for children at various YMCA locations in Greater Boston and recently extended this program into Portland, Maine through a partnership with the Maine Celtics.
David Healy, president of Sun Life U.S., commented: "Throughout our relationship with the Celtics, we have pursued a shared goal of raising diabetes awareness and helping at-risk communities and the organizations that support them. The YMCA of Greater Boston provides many valuable services and programs to those in need, which aligns with our focus of helping people access care and live healthier lives. We are proud to support the YMCA, and love that we get to do this with the Boston Celtics, who never fail to rack up an impressive number of dunks each year."
Over its twelve-year history,#SunLifeDunk4Diabetes has raised more than $1.2 million for YMCA programs focused on health education such as Healthy Habits—a ten-week course aimed at reducing diabetes risk through nutrition and fitness training.
Sun Life operates internationally providing financial services including asset management as well as insurance solutions across several countries worldwide. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on stock exchanges in Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE), and Manila (PSE) under SLF.
In addition, Sun Life U.S. serves around 50 million Americans through employee benefits such as dental coverage or disability insurance policies issued by Sun Life Assurance Company or its affiliates.
The YMCA of Greater Boston, established over 170 years ago as America’s first Y location remains focused on promoting well-being through educational initiatives while fostering inclusivity within Massachusetts communities.