The Boston Celtics delivered a great dunk display during the month of November – led by Robert Williams with 19 dunks – to raise $105,000 for #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes. The fundraising campaign runs each November, National Diabetes Awareness Month, and supports the YMCA of Greater Boston’s Healthy Habits program, which helps at-risk adults and families learn to manage their health through fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to prevent type 2 diabetes. Each Celtics dunk in November raised $1,000 for Healthy Habits, while fans voted on Twitter for the best dunk each week to raise an additional $1 per vote. The weeks of voting culminated in a final vote for best dunk of the month, which belonged to Jayson Tatum from the November 19 game against the L.A. Lakers. The Celtics Shamrock Foundation matched donations up to $25,000.
“Diabetes continues to disproportionately impact underserved communities, highlighting the stark healthcare disparities around the country, so we must help increase access to health and health-support services,” said Neil Haynes, senior vice president and CFO of Sun Life U.S., and board member of the YMCA of Greater Boston. “We are proud to continue supporting the YMCA’s diabetes prevention programming, building on years of helping people in the Boston community improve their health and wellness.”
“We are proud to partner with a great organization like Sun Life that shares our commitment to improving the health of our local communities,” said Ted Dalton, Boston Celtics senior vice president of Partnerships and Business Development. “With basketball season back in full swing, we’re thrilled to showcase our players’ dunks while increasing awareness for diabetes prevention and education.”
The YMCA of Greater Boston’s Healthy Habits program is a 10-week intensive course for those at risk for or living with diabetes. The program provides participants with the tools and support they need to establish and maintain the foundational habits for living a healthy lifestyle. Previously, the YMCA offered the Diabetes Prevention Program, a curriculum from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention geared toward at-risk/pre-diabetic adults.
“Support from Sun Life and the Celtics helps us continue to serve the wonderful people of Greater Boston as we try to pull out of the pandemic and help people maintain their health,” said James Morton, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston. “From the players’ talent to the amazing fans, we are thrilled to see such enthusiasm and support for our Healthy Habits program.”
Since the beginning of the campaign in 2014, #SunLifeDunk4Diabetes has raised more than $700,000 for the YMCA of Greater Boston’s diabetes education programming. Globally, Sun Life has donated more than $33 million to support diabetes programs, and has given over $3.4 million to programs in the U.S.
