Sun Life supports Gawad Kalinga

MANILA, Philippines - Sun Life Financial was on hand at the fourth annual Gawad Kalinga Global Summit, which brought experts from around the world to Toronto to share ideas about how to eradicate poverty in the Philippines and other developing countries.

As champion sponsor of this year’s event,  Sun Life had the opportunity to congratulate its partners on their continued commitment to sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, building productivity and creating opportunities for thousands of families.

 “We are proud to partner with Gawad Kalinga in their mission to end poverty for five million families in the Philippines by 2024,” said Frank Switzer, VP, Corporate Communications, as he welcomed 500 guests to the summit at the opening gala last June.

He went on to thank Tony Meloto, founder and chairman of Gawad Kalinga, for his leadership in building nearly 2,000 communities across the Philippines in the past nearly 30 years. “I know I speak on behalf of all of us here tonight when I say that your incredible passion and your achievements with Gawad Kalinga are a true inspiration to us all.”

All hands were on deck, with CSF advisors manning a Sun Life sponsored booth at the Gawad Kalinga Global Summit.

Esteemed attendees included GK founder and chairman Tony Meloto; GK Canada chairman Alfredo (Pidoy) Pacis; Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan; and Canadian Ambassador to the Philippine Christopher Thornley. Also in attendance at the opening gala were several of CSF advisors from the Scarborough Financial Center.

During the summit’s plenary sessions, Susan Jantzi, Sun Life director for Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, gave a presentation to about 100 delegates detailing how Sun Life’s corporate social responsibility programs, and in particular, its employee and advisor donor program, such as the company’s volunteer program, helps direct corporate funds to the causes Sun Life cares about. When asked why encouraging volunteerism is important for corporations, Jantzi cited employee engagement as being a key benefit.