$100,000 donation to strengthen mental health resiliency for Toronto LGBTIQ2S youth

TORONTO, June 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial is making a $100,000 donation to Egale Centre - Canada's first and Toronto's only facility that will combine the counselling of Egale Youth Outreach with transitional and emergency housing exclusively dedicated to serving homeless LGBTIQ2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, two-spirit) youth. This contribution will be directed to programming that will assist in helping to build mental health resiliency. Today's announcement comes during Toronto's month-long Pride festivies and just days before the city's annual Pride parade, an event that attracts over one million individuals.

Egale Centre, opening in the fall of 2017, will provide 30 resident rooms, each with a private bathroom and shower. The facility will be located at the corner of Dundas and Sherbourne Streets, near the Church-Wellesley Village, in the heart of Toronto's LGBTIQ2S community. The centre will offer a range of support services, including: crisis intervention, housing support, mental health counselling and employment and education support. In Toronto, approximately one in four homeless youth identify as LGBTIQ2S ¹.

"We are pleased to be working with Egale Centre to create an inclusive and safe community for our LGBTIQ2S youth.  Together,  we can help provide them with the tools and resources to positively impact their physical and mental health," said Melissa Kennedy, Executive Vice-President, Chief Legal Officer & Public Affairs, Sun Life Financial. "Sun Life strongly believes in the importance of diversity, encouraging people to embrace their authenticity in order to lead a brighter life."

Egale Centre is operated by Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, Canada's only national charity promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans human rights through research, education and community engagement.

"This financial support will be directly helping to improve the lives of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups within the LGBTIQ2S community," said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director, Egale Canada Human Rights Trust. "We want to provide youth with the opportunities they deserve, removing barriers and encouraging everyone to reach their full potential."

Sun Life is a proud ally of the LGBTIQ2S community and fosters an inclusive work environment that encourages and values employees to express their true self. Sun Life is also a member of Pride at Work Canada. As a national partner, we foster a workplace culture that recognizes LGBTQ employees as an important part of our diverse workforce.

Follow the conversation on social media using the hashtag #SunLifePride and #EgaleCentre.

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2016, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of $861 billion. 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.

About Egale
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is Canada's only national charity promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, and two-spirit (LGBTIQ2S) human rights through research, education and community engagement. Egale's vision is a Canada free from homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination, where every person can achieve their potential unencumbered by hatred and bias.

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¹ Egale 2012, "Not Under My Roof"

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada

For further information:

Media Relations Contact:

Gannon Loftus
Manager, Media & PR
Sun Life Financial
C. 647.228.8244
[e-mail]

Ryan Lester
Campaign Director
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust

C. 416.871.8575
[e-mail]