Boston Celtics, Sun Life celebrate 12th annual Fit to Win youth program with appearances by Hugo González, Derrick White and Amari Williams
MWN-AI** Summary
The Boston Celtics and Sun Life U.S. recently celebrated the 12th annual Fit to Win youth program, aimed at promoting fitness and healthy habits among children. The program culminated in an engaging nutrition-themed event where Celtics players Hugo González, Derrick White, and Amari Williams joined local kids in a fun competition to create smoothie and cereal bars.
Fit to Win, in collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Boston, encourages children aged 8 to 12 from various communities to track their health activities, which can include workouts, journaling, and maintaining hydration and sleep. This year's activities kicked off in February with a health fair at the East Boston YMCA, featuring creative writing, fruit and vegetable selection, vision screenings, and interactive learning sessions about healthy eating practices. Kids also participated in fitness workouts led by Celtics legend Leon Powe and enjoyed a dunk show by Lucky the Leprechaun.
David Healy, president of Sun Life U.S., highlighted the program's impact over the years, noting its importance for instilling lifelong healthy habits in children. The partnership with the Celtics reinforces this commitment to community enrichment, evidenced by initiatives like the annual #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes fundraiser, which supports the YMCA’s Healthy Habits program.
Ted Dalton, chief partnership officer of the Boston Celtics, expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts and their positive influence on the community. With over 2,600 participants since its inception, the Fit to Win program exemplifies a successful model for promoting healthy lifestyles among youth, with ongoing expansions to reach even more communities, including partnerships with the Maine Celtics and Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The Boston Celtics’ ongoing partnership with Sun Life, highlighted by the recently concluded 12th annual Fit to Win program, presents an intriguing evaluation opportunity for investors. The company's community engagement initiatives, which promote health and nutrition among youth, not only enhance brand loyalty but also solidify Sun Life's corporate social responsibility profile. Through sustained interaction with local communities, involving players like Hugo González and Derrick White, the Celtics bolster their image, which can indirectly impact ticket sales and merchandise revenue—key metrics of financial health.
From a financial perspective, Sun Life's commitment to community-focused programs positions it favorably within socially responsible investment spaces. As the demand for companies that prioritize health and wellness continues to rise, Sun Life’s investments in initiatives like Fit to Win may lead to increased consumer trust and a larger customer base. More than 2,600 children have benefitted from this program alone, indicating a substantial community footprint and the potential for future generational loyalty towards Sun Life’s financial products.
In the short to medium term, investors should keep an eye on Sun Life’s stock performance in relation to their growing engagement in community initiatives. The upcoming results from their corporate social responsibility efforts—including financial implications from such programs—could yield positive returns, particularly as health awareness remains a central theme in consumer behavior.
Furthermore, as Boston Celtics games often draw significant attendance and media presence, the partnership could elevate Sun Life’s visibility, spurring growth in its various product lines. Investors should advocate for continuous monitoring of community-based initiatives that may offer a competitive advantage and enhance shareholder value over time.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
WELLESLEY, Mass., March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This week Sun Life U.S. and the Boston Celtics celebrated the 12th annual Fit to Win program, which engages kids in fitness and healthy habit activities. Fit to Win concluded this week with a nutrition-themed event, which saw Celtics players Hugo González, Derrick White and Amari Williams join the kids for a competition of smoothie and cereal bar making. Conducted in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Boston, the Fit to Win program has kids track their health activities, which range from workouts, to journaling, to drinking enough water and getting enough sleep.
This year's program started in February with the Fit to Win Health Fair at the East Boston YMCA, offering the kids experiences with creative writing, selecting fruits and vegetables to take home, vision screenings, smoothie tasting, vegan cuisine, flossing and teeth brushing demos, and more. The kids, ages 8 – 12, from the YMCAs of Dorchester, East Boston, and Roxbury, also engaged in workouts lead by Celtics legend Leon Powe, and enjoyed a dunk show from Lucky the Leprechaun and his crew. Two kids were gifted tickets to an upcoming Celtics game as part of an event giveaway.
"Since the start of this program over a decade ago, we have seen so many children embrace new experiences in healthy living," said David Healy, president, Sun Life U.S. "We are fortunate to have such a great partnership with the Celtics, that allows us to make an impact in the communities around Boston that need it most. Learning healthy habits at an early age is the first step to using healthy habits throughout your life. Helping people live healthier lives is our ultimate goal."
Throughout their long-standing partnership, Sun Life and the Boston Celtics have consistently engaged in community support programs. In addition to Fit to Win, Sun Life and the Celtics conduct the annual #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes fundraiser each November to raise money for the YMCA of Greater Boston's Healthy Habits program.
"We're grateful for the collaboration with Sun Life and the YMCA of Greater Boston, and the positive impact it continues to have across our community," said Ted Dalton, chief partnership officer, Boston Celtics. "Bringing kids together with Celtics players in a setting that promotes healthy, active lifestyles is a meaningful way to reinforce habits that can last a lifetime."
For 12 years, Fit to Win has built a legacy of connecting kids with the knowledge and resources they need to lead healthier lives, and even bring that knowledge home to their families. Since the program began, more than 2,600 kids have participated.
Sun Life's team partnership with the Boston Celtics includes activations with the Maine Celtics. They conduct the Fit to Win program with Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, bringing the program to a broader range of youth communities.
For more information about Fit to Win, visit https://www.nba.com/celtics/community/fit-to-win. For more information about Sun Life's community programs and philanthropic initiatives, visit https://www.sunlife.com/us/en/about/our-community-involvement/.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of C$1.60 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 48 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs more than 8,300 people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in New York, where policies are issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, Mich.). For more information visit our website and newsroom.
Media contact
Devon Fernald
Sun Life U.S.
Devon.Portney.Fernald@sunlife.com
781-800-3609
Connect with Sun Life U.S.
SOURCE Sun Life U.S.
FAQ**
How has the partnership between Sun Life Financial Inc. SLF and the Boston Celtics evolved to enhance the impact of the Fit to Win program over the years?
What specific health habits have shown the most improvement among the 2,600 kids who participated in the Fit to Win program initiated by Sun Life Financial Inc. SLF and the Boston Celtics?
How do Celtics players like Derrick White and Amari Williams contribute to the success of the Fit to Win program in promoting healthy lifestyles for youth?
What additional community programs or initiatives does Sun Life Financial Inc. SLF plan to launch in collaboration with the Boston Celtics to further support youth health and wellness?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE: SLF).
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