Sun Life Financial brings The Give Agency back to Toronto after creating change for dozens of non-profit charities

Toronto's top marketing and strategic minds will join forces again for four days to provide free ideas, strategies and tactics to local and national charities

TORONTO, March 1, 2018 /CNW/ - The Give Agency and Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) are pleased to be joining forces once again to launch one of Toronto's largest creative pop-up agencies to help local and national charities, free of charge. Running for four days at the end of the month, The Give Agency, along with Sun Life Financial and 120 of Toronto's top marketing and communications experts, will use their world-class expertise to help organizations of all sizes tackle some of their toughest financial, marketing and engagement challenges.

Originally launched in Halifax in 2016 by marketing experts Brian Hickling, Mike Maloney and Chaz Thorne, The Give Agency now hosts events in Montreal and Toronto, empowering local non-profits with fresh ideas, strategies and tactics that drive new opportunities for fundraising, engagement and sustainability. This is the second year Sun Life has sponsored The Give Agency. 

"In just two years, our volunteers have delivered over $1 million worth of time, expertise and fundraising revenues for organizations like United Way, Second Harvest and Feed Nova Scotia," said Mike Maloney, co-founder, The Give Agency. "We're seeing an incredible desire for people to use their talents, not just their time, to make the world a better place. And that's what The Give Agency does. It's a fast-paced environment designed to create an incredible amount of change in just one day. It's exhilarating. It's transformative. It's holistic. And most of all, it's fun."

Open from March 26 to March 29, The Give Agency harnesses an army of one-day volunteers by bringing together local experts with local non-profits and will take them through a series of high-speed idea workshops that will generate dozens of innovative solutions to their toughest challenges.

"We're excited to once again team up with The Give Agency and collaborate alongside Toronto's top talent to support this creative, feel-good endeavour," said Paul Joliat, Assistant-Vice President, Philanthropy and Sponsorships, Sun Life Financial. "At Sun Life, we're focused on building sustainable and healthier communities for life and what better way to do that than to lend our expertise to local charities."

Call for charities
The Give Agency is now accepting applications from organizations that are interested in working with the industry's top talent. Charities are encouraged to visit www.TheGiveAgency.ca/client to apply by March 9, 2018. Four non-profit organizations will be selected and each will work with The Give Agency for one day.

Call for volunteers
The Give Agency is also accepting applications from marketing, advertising, communications and strategy rock-stars interested in donating one day of their time to collaborate and team up with other talented experts to make a difference. To apply, please visit www.TheGiveAgency.ca/volunteer.

About The Give Agency
Originally founded in Halifax by Brian Hickling, Mike Maloney and Chaz Thorne, The Give Agency is a social movement that provides top idea rock-stars in marketing, advertising, communications and strategy with a compelling way to put their skills to work for the community. Leveraging a unique marketing barn-raising process, the agency aims to deliver as much as 100 ideas in one day that help non-profits grow their revenues, boost engagement and enhance their sustainability - all free of charge. For more information, please visit www.TheGiveAgency.ca.

Sun Life Financial in the community
At Sun Life Financial, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life and we're proud to hold the Caring Company designation from Imagine Canada. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, Employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on two key areas: health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives through our Team Up Against Diabetes^TM platform; and arts and culture, through our award-winning Making the Arts More Accessible ^TM program. We also partner with sports properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Our Employees and advisors take great pride in volunteering over 40,000 hours each year and contribute to making life brighter for individuals and families across Canada. Read more about Sun Life Financial in the community.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Media relations contacts:
Mike Maloney                                                                        
Co-Founder, The Give Agency                          
T: 902-225-4989                                    
thegiveagencypr@gmail.com                            

Hannah Stewart    
Senior Communications Specialist, Sun Life Financial    
T: 647-256-2136
hannah.stewart@sunlife.com

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada