Sun Life has renewed its community programme for underprivileged youth with the global sport for social change foundation Beyond Sport, increasing investment to CA$1.5m (US$1.08m) across six countries in Asia in 2025.
The “Hoops + Health” programme aims to prevent rising physical inactivity among young people by renovating basketball courts and hosting free training sessions.
“By leveraging basketball, we are creating a platform that not only improves physical health but also fosters community engagement and personal development among youth,” said Fred Turner, executive director of Beyond Sport.
The Hoops + Health initiative, launched in September 2023, focuses on providing equipment donations to schools in low-income areas, court maintenance, and free basketball events for young players and coaches.
Sun Life said it targets to reach an additional 31,000 beneficiaries in its second year, following on from the 14,000 it reached in 2024.
In November, Sun Life Asia reported that limited access to safe exercise spaces has contributed to the decline in physical activity in Asia, increasing the risk of diabetes in the region. The survey looked into the awareness of diabetes risk factors, treatment and prevention of over 3,600 participants from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
