Sun Life Financial builds healthy communities through the gift of music

Musical Instrument Lending Library program expands to Kitchener Public Library

KITCHENER, ON, July 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Residents of the Kitchener-Waterloo region will now be able to borrow musical instruments free of charge courtesy of the Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program – the first of its kind in the area. This highly successful program gives anyone with a valid Kitchener Public Library card the opportunity to borrow a variety of musical instruments.

"Home to Sun Life's Canadian head office, the Kitchener-Waterloo community is near and dear to our hearts and we are thrilled to provide more Canadians with access to music through this innovative program, one that aligns with our mission of building healthy and sustainable communities for life," said Paul Joliat, Assistant Vice-President, Philanthropy and Sponsorships, Sun Life Financial. "Music is very powerful and affects the way we think, feel and act, which is why the joy of making music is something every Canadian deserves to experience."

Sun Life will be donating 150 instruments and accessories to the library, including, guitars, ukuleles, violins, drums and portable keyboards and has created a series of seven short videos to assist individuals with the use, care and enjoyment of the instruments. Whether you're a beginner picking up an instrument for the first time or a seasoned musician, the program is designed for anyone looking to explore the world of music. Sun Life will also be making a philanthropic donation to the Kitchener Public Library to help fund the program operating costs.

The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program is a natural extension of Sun Life's support of music education, one that aligns perfectly with the company's award-winning Making the Arts More Accessible™ program. Sun Life believes arts and culture should be celebrated within our communities and made available to everyone, regardless of their means.

"Like reading literacy, music literacy can have a profound and lasting effect on our well-being and success in life," said Mary Chevreau, CEO, Kitchener Public Library. "We pride ourselves on providing both welcoming spaces and state-of-the-art tools to help people of all backgrounds bring their vision, and their voice, to life. That's why we're excited to be partnering with Sun Life Financial to develop a Musical Instrument Lending Library. Music bridges all social, cultural, and economic boundaries and is an ideal way to express ideas and bring people closer together. We are grateful for Sun Life Financial's investment in the Library and to arts and culture in our community; by working together, we can make great things happen."

The Library will also be holding a Musical Instrument Donation Drive running from July 10 to August 10. Residents of the Kitchener-Waterloo region may drop off their donations at the following locations:

• Kitchener Public Library, 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener
• Long and McQuade, 36 King Street North, Waterloo

Please visit www.kpl.org/instruments for more information.

The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program was first launched at the Toronto Public Library in April 2016, and was later expanded to the Vancouver, Montréal and Calgary Public Libraries. The program is already an overwhelming success in the first four cities, and all libraries are currently experiencing wait times to borrow an instrument.

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.

About Kitchener Public Library
Kitchener Public Library is a hub of activity and one of the most significant community spaces in the City of Kitchener. The library boasts five locations located throughout the city; including the award-winning and recently renovated and expanded Central Library near the downtown core. The library has 102,000 active members and welcomes 1.2 million visitors each year. To learn more about Kitchener Public Library, visit kpl.org. To be the first to find out what's happening at the library, follow @KitchLibrary on Twitter.

Media Relations Contact:
Hannah Stewart
Senior Communications Specialist, Corporate Communications
Sun Life Financial
T. 647.256.2136
C. 416.557.4428
hannah.stewart@sunlife.com

Bob Egan
Manager, Community Development
Kitchener Public Library
T. 519.743.0271 x 278
C. 519.500.2273
bob.egan@kpl.org

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.