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We’re excited to share that the second year of our Hoops + Health program with Sun Life is officially underway with the goal of positively impacting 45,000 children and community members’ lives by the end of 2025.
Hoops + Health uses the power of basketball to foster physical and mental wellbeing among young people and marginalized youth across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore. It works to inspire healthy living and foster healthier communities through education, upskilling of local coaches and free basketball clinics.
Last year, five basketball courts were completely revitalized into state-of-the-spaces, alongside numerous community activities including free-to-access basketball sessions and skill-based training for local coaches. The 2025 program will broaden impact across three core pillars: improving access to physical activity through equipment donations and court maintenance; engaging communities through expanded coach training, workshops and community events; and encouraging youth to be active by offering free basketball sessions across all markets.
To build on the success of the program’s first year, Sun Life has increased its investment from one to 1.5 million CAD, underscoring its dedication to combating rising youth physical inactivity and sedentary behavior.
“The Hoops + Health program exemplifies the power sport holds to provide solutions to urgent social challenges. By leveraging basketball, we are creating a platform that not only improves physical health but also fosters community engagement and personal development among youth. We are excited to see how our expanded efforts will further enrich the lives of thousands of children across the region,” said Fred Fikouhi-Turner, Executive Director at Beyond Sport.
From May through June Hoops + Health will host a series of youth basketball festival events across Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, bringing together young people from various local delivery partners and communities to celebrate the initiative. Additionally, in Indonesia, youth will have the opportunity to showcase their skills at a friendly 3×3 tournament in central Jakarta. These events intend to bring the community together and highlight basketball’s ability to promote healthy lifestyles.
Additional initiatives include:
- In Hong Kong and Vietnam: leveraging Sun Life’s partnerships with local organizations, respectively the Basketball Association of Hong Kong, China (BAHKC) and the Saigon Heat, to expand access to Hoops + Health’s free youth basketball sessions across multiple locations.
- In the Philippines and Indonesia: Sun Life is making basketball equipment donations to schools in low-income areas to encourage children to be more active.
- In Malaysia and Singapore: numerous community groups will participate in Hoops + Health basketball activities and program wrap-up events, not only engaging the young participants and coaches but also Sun Life employees and the wider community.
“It’s amazing to see the difference the Hoops + Health program has made in helping kids and young people get active playing a sport that they love. By increasing our investment in the initiative, we want to help more young people to live healthier lives. At Sun Life, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow up strong and healthy, and we’re committed to making that a reality across Asia,” said David Broom, Chief Client and Distribution Officer at Sun Life Asia.
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