Sun Life U.S. Opens 2026 Health Access Hero Awards Targeting Oral Health, Diabetes

Sun Life opens 2026 Health Access Hero Awards focusing on oral health, diabetes

WELLESLEY, Mass. — Sun Life U.S., together with DentaQuest, opens the application and nomination period for the 2026 Health Access Hero Awards, targeting programs and individuals who expand access to care and improve outcomes for oral health and diabetes. The awards support community-level education, awareness, treatment and support services, and are inviting hospitals, health clinics, grassroots organizations and individual change-makers to apply or be nominated by March 31.

The program operates on two tracks: grants to fund community health and wellness programs, and recognition of individuals who make significant local impact. Organizations selected for grants receive funding to expand or pilot initiatives addressing oral health and diabetes, while individual “Heroes” receive a $10,000 donation to a charity of their choice. Sun Life and DentaQuest emphasize the awards’ role in preventive care and health equity, noting the program has provided more than $3.5 million in grants and recognized over 130 individuals nationwide to date.

Interested applicants and nominators can find full details and submit materials at sunlife.com/healthaccessheroes. The awards continue Sun Life U.S.’s focus on partnerships that extend services to underserved populations, with a specific orientation toward integrating oral health into broader chronic disease management such as diabetes care.

Sun Life U.S. positions the awards within a broader strategy of community investments and employer- and government-focused benefits that aim to reduce barriers to care. The insurer highlights preventive care initiatives and collaborations with local providers as central to improving health outcomes and lowering long-term costs for patients and health systems.

Sun Life is a global financial services organization offering asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions across multiple markets. Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits and says it helps approximately 50 million Americans access care; the company reports total assets under management of C$1.62 trillion as of Sept. 30, 2025.