Sun Life Philippines recently announced the expansion of its successful Hoops + Health program, reinforcing its commitment to fostering healthy and active lifestyles among the Filipinos. Building on the positive impact of last year’s Hoops + Health program, Sun Life will donate basketball equipment and gear to 130 schools across Metro Manila. This is aligned with Sun Life’s 130th anniversary in the Philippines.
Joy Castillo, Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. Chief Operating Officer and Sun Life Foundation President; Dr. Cipriano Bisco Jr., Taguig Integrated School Principal; Carla Gonzalez-Chong, Sun Life Philippines Chief Client Experience and Marketing Officer; and Tina Wong, Beyond Sport Asia Consultant
The Hoops + Health program, in collaboration with global sport-for-social-change organization Beyond Sport, drives towards Sun Life’s advocacy to help Filipinos live healthier lives. Recognizing the immense popularity of basketball in the Philippines and its potential to encourage physical activity, Sun Life is contributing to the grassroots development of sports by providing schools with the necessary tools to empower their students to move.
This year, the program is intensifying its efforts to promote youth active lifestyles. It aims to engage 120 youth, aged 7 to 16, over more than 200 training hours through six-months of free weekly basketball sessions. The delivery locations have expanded from just Laguna in 2024 to Laguna, Pasig City, and Mandaluyong City in 2025. The 130 schools were identified in coordination with the Sun Life Foundation and AHA! Behavioral Design. In addition, the initiative recently ran virtual coach workshops with 51 Filipino basketball coaches to support them in educating an estimated 3,460 young people about health and wellness.
Meanwhile, the donation package for each school will include a variety of basketball essentials, such as basketballs, hoops, nets, and other training equipment. This donation aims to remove barriers to participation and ensure that the community has access to the resources they need to engage in sports.
“We are thrilled to continue the Hoops + Health program as this embodies our mission to be a partner in the Filipinos’ journey towards a healthier life,” said Carla Gonzalez-Chong, Chief Client Experience and Marketing Officer of Sun Life Philippines. “Last year, we saw firsthand the enthusiasm and positive impact this initiative had on young people. By equipping more schools with quality basketball gear, we aim to inspire even more youth to embrace an active lifestyle, learn valuable life skills through sports, and build a healthier future for themselves.”
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